U.S. Navy Tightens Its Grip on the Strait of Hormuz — But Drivers Aren't Feeling Relief at the Gas Pump

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - APRIL 16: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speaks as he displays a map showing the United States Navy's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 16, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. Caine spoke about the war between the United States and Israel against Iran as negotiations continue toward a longer-term agreement between the countries. (Credit: Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Six months of fighting between the United States and Iran have turned the Strait of Hormuz into a daily contest of claims, counterclaims and satellite tracking. This week, the tanker data finally offers something closer to an answer: the U.S. Navy appears to be winning the fight for the waterway that historically carries about one-fifth of global oil supply, even as Tehran insists otherwise.

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