President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States secretly moved 22 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days without Iran realizing it was happening.
Speaking during an event in the Oval Office, Trump said the operations were conducted at night with “no lights” and outside the view of Iranian forces monitoring the critical shipping lane.
“I’m just announcing today for the first time, but we’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil, millions of barrels,” Trump said.
“Every night, we’ve been taking out oil, but now I’m gonna tell you because they just figured it out,” he continued. “It was very hard for me. I wanted to say it so badly, but I didn’t want to ruin it.”
Trump said the covert operations helped stabilize global energy markets amid ongoing tensions in the region.
“Millions of dollars of barrels have come out, and that’s why it’s at $85-$90 a barrel instead of $250,” he added.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, with a major share of global oil shipments flowing through the narrow passage between Iran and Oman. Any disruption to shipping there has historically rattled global markets and triggered fears of major spikes in crude prices.
Trump did not provide additional operational details about how the tankers were escorted or protected during the nighttime movements. The president’s remarks come as the administration continues managing heightened tensions with Iran following escalating military confrontations in the region.
Watch the clip below:
🚨 WOW! President Trump reveals the United States has been TAKING MILLIONS of barrels of oil at night during the Iran blockade
"I'm just announcing today for the first time. We've been taking MILLIONS of barrels of oil! Every night, we took out oil." 🔥
"Nobody knows about it.… pic.twitter.com/iOtNOfYp1c
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 10, 2026
