U.S. Denies Restarting Hormuz Escort Missions; Iran Says 25 Ships Passed

The U.S. military on May 26, 2026, denied reports it had quietly resumed the “Project Freedom” escort mission for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that no formal naval convoys are underway despite signs of improving traffic. U.S. Central Command confirmed it is maintaining routine communication and navigation coordination with regional ships but has not restarted the protective operation. Wall Street Journal reporting earlier Tuesday indicated a Greek-owned supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude had been guided through the strait, with the Pentagon planning similar escorts for about 10 priority vessels stuck since early March. The “Project Freedom” escort mission originally launched to evacuate over 1,500 neutral ships amid Iranian blockade threats had lasted only 36 hours before being paused for diplomacy. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy separately stated 25 vessels—including tankers and container ships—were permitted safe passage in the prior 24 hours under its coordination. Shipping volumes remain below pre-crisis levels, with some large vessels disabling AIS tracking systems. The strait handles roughly one-fifth of global crude supply, and any prolonged disruption threatens to drive up oil prices, freight costs, insurance premiums, and global inflation expectations.