US considering military support for Middle East oil and gas supplies

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

03/03/2026 01:32 PM EST


The Trump administration is considering providing military protection to oil and gas tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to cool energy prices that have surged since Iran warned it would attack ships at the choke point, two people said Tuesday.

“Military support for oil and gas supplies,” a person familiar with the discussion who was granted anonymity to discuss internal conversations said when asked about the potential for U.S. naval vessels to escort ships traveling through the strait. “It’s becoming a growing concern that the energy markets could face pressures in the coming days as the military campaign intensifies and expands in geographic scope. Access to the Straits of Hormuz is obviously vital for both natural gas and crude oil shipments, especially from Qatar and Saudi.”

U.S. oil prices have risen nearly $10 per barrel since the end of last week as the fighting has continued. That increase has started to filter down to gasoline prices, which are poised to climb higher than when President Donald Trump took office last year.

The administration is also considering potentially having the U.S. government back the insurance needed for tankers to continue traveling through the strait, said a third person familiar with the discussions. While the strait remains technically open, marine insurance companies are hiking rates and in some cases canceling coverage for tankers that traverse the area.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/03/iran-oil-energy-military-trump-hormuz-00808825

---

WTAF????

There are "Live Updates" breaking about this ridiculous scenario right now.

“Military support for oil and gas supplies,” a person familiar with the discussion who was granted anonymity to discuss internal conversations said when asked about the potential for U.S. naval vessels to escort ships traveling through the strait.

(snip)

The administration is also considering potentially having the U.S. government back the insurance needed for tankers to continue traveling through the strait, said a third person familiar with the discussions.

Where is the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for this? Why not ask Muskrat to kick in a couple hundred million.

[Traildogbob]

1. Bet ya the oil

Folks ain�t gonna offer a dollar for protection.
Tax payers just keep injecting cash into their veins.

[ruet]

2. Crazy!

I don't recall any supply issues on 2/27/26.

[Justice matters.]

38. China...

Not happy.

Pedo's buddy Xi is compaining...

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. So, we are going to endanger US lives

and paint targets on naval ships just so the Child Rapist's fellow child rapist can protect their money?

[Justice matters.]

39. Yeah... who will want to risk their life working on those tankers? nt

[Klarkashton]

4. So how about calling the whole goddamn thing off

And apologizing to Iran for being stupid.

[nitpicked]

5. Snip from BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cy0dp1l57nxt
(snip)

14:55
Breaking
Donald Trump says "if necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible".

The US-Israel war with Iran has almost entirely halted shipping traffic passing through the sea passage, which passes between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

It's one of the most important routes in the world for global oil and gas supplies, with almost 20 million barrels of oil passing through a day.

Trump says he has also instructed a federal agency to provide "political risk insurance and guarantees for ALL Maritime Trade" through the Gulf.

"No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the World," he says.
(snip)

[Srkdqltr]

26. They can't get Americans out but guard the oil.

[EX500rider]

6. Seems like a sensible consideration to me, help tamper down the oil market jitters

Maybe offer to release some of the strategic oil reserve also to help drive down prices.
The US has done both things before in the past.

See Tanker Wars 1981-1988 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanker_war
Due to the threat to global oil supplies and freedom of navigation, the U.S. Navy escorted re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers, leading to direct engagements with Iranian forces.

And keeping the price of oil down hurts Russia so double good.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. There are too many tankers and cargo ships stuck in the Strait right now

Whose tankers would we escort? How many of our ships would be needed to do this?

With drone warfare being "a thing" now, how do you protect an area like that without some lone shot-down drone slamming into a tanker that we're not escorting, and lighting up the water?

This whole thing is a cosplay fiasco that is rapidly collapsing.

[EX500rider]

10. Might be other navies will to help with that, their economies depend on it

Key Destinations and Percentages (via Strait of Hormuz):
Asia (Total): ~82%
China: ~37.7% (Also, ~90% of Iran's specific exports)
India: ~14.7%
Other Asia: ~13.9%
South Korea: ~12.0%
Other (Europe/USA): Remaining ~18

India relies on the Middle East for about 60% of its oil imports.
More than 90% of Japan's crude oil imports come from the Middle East.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. There are a bunch of countries who have been against our actions against Iran

for this very reason.

What you are describing is what SHRUB and POPPY put together BEFORE bombing - a so-called "Coalition of the Willing".

We have FEW "willing" because Kegsbreath thought he was "all that".

[EX500rider]

20. How willing they are or not will change if they run out of oil due to the Iranians stopping tanker traffic

How will the Chinese or Indians look upon tankers flying their flags being fired on/sunk by the Iranians?
They may start to escort their own flagged vessels.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. China has already been obfuscating their ships to get what they need

and Iran has been at this for a LONG time and knows who butters their bread and who they will protect. Everyone else is on their own if a drone swarm comes in and any stray fire from the "protectors", lights up the Strait.

We don't have enough ships to do that AND patrol outside of Venezuela looking for little speed boats to blow out of the water.

[democratsruletheday]

29. FUCK yes....what an absolute clown show, ran by the head clown himself

and he'll cost lots of young American lives before it's all over too. Such a piece of shit.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. I keep seeing images of the maritime situation at the moment

This was just from a couple days ago -

Shipping security risk increases dramatically in Persian Gulf


Marcus Hand,Editor
February 28, 2026

(snip)

Skytek, a provider of intelligence services to marine insurances, said on a post on X that over 100 container ships, 450 oil and gas tankers and 200 bulk carriers were currently inside the Strait of Hormuz.

“Live traffic shows one-way flow OUT of the Gulf. No vessels entering the Strait,” the post said.

(snip)

(from here - https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/security/shipping-security-risk-increases-dramatically-in-persian-gulf)

And obviously not all are oil tankers but also include container ships with goods going back and forth.

[sarisataka]

11. It is not sensible

The escorts themselves would become the targets.

The Burke- class destroyers are capable platforms, but at extremely close range it is likely the Iranians could overwhelm a ship with a swarm attack.

Crippling or sinking one of the destroyers would be a greater victory than half a dozen tankers.

It is a known weakness of the US Navy that we lack smaller escort warships like the OHP- class frigates we used during the Tanker War.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. "the Iranians could overwhelm a ship with a swarm attack" - EXACTLY!!!!!!!!

There is no magical "Golden dome" for interceptions of drone swarms over those ships.

[EX500rider]

22. Once the Iranian's lose total air control Predators overhead firing on any anti-vessel activity will slow that down fast

trying to launch will become a death sentence.

The Russian/Ukrainian example does not work here as they both control their air space, allowing for safe launch of UAV's 20+ miles back from the front.

Something like their reverse engineered Chinese C-802 anti-ship missile (the Noor) is their best bet IMO, but the launchers aren't exactly hard to identify.

[sarisataka]

23. Recall how difficult it was to find Hussein's SCUD launchers

Even with total air superiority?

Drones will make reconnaissance easier but it is possible to conceal launchers until very shortly before firing. Also their is the question of will this administration allow the military to assign appropriate assets to implement an appropriate strategy?

[EX500rider]

35. Both aerial surveillance & the kill chain speed are vastly different now then in 1991 though

[BumRushDaShow]

28. Don't forget the people who 45 keeps claiming were "obliterated" (the Houthis)

who have done some damage "from the other side" last year. Notably Israel (who has been battling Lebanon and Hezbollah all of a sudden). They are waiting in the wings.

[EX500rider]

34. Yeah but they get all their weapons from Iran who I doubt has any to spare now

[BumRushDaShow]

42. Remember who has helped Iran ramp up production

and who has now started producing their own based on those designs.

You know who they are because they are battling Ukraine at the moment.

[EX500rider]

44. I doubt the Russians have any to spare for the houthis either

And that's a much more obvious and longer supply chain then from Iran

[BumRushDaShow]

45. They have their own production that can be distributed

I posted something about this in another thread - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3624821

Report: Construction Progresses at Russian Plant for Iranian Drones (VOA's source was Reuters - from 2023)

(ETA - these might be the types we recently reverse-engineered - i.e., the "kamikaze" ones)

[EX500rider]

47. Yes the Russians have their own production facility for Shahed drones

But
A. they need them all for Ukraine
&
B. no easy supply route to Yemen that would go unnoticed.

Normally they could go across the Caspian to Iran, then on to dhow's to Yemen but that route is closed at the moment I bet leaving no easy route, just a very long and obvious trip from Vladivostok or Murmansk

[BumRushDaShow]

48. They don't necessarily need them all for Ukraine

B. no easy supply route to Yemen that would go unnoticed.

I have been to Egypt. If you put enough "baksheesh" in their hand, they will make it so.

[EX500rider]

49. Not a chance, Egypt is losing billions a year due to Houthi strikes on vessels

The Suez Canal generated $3.991 billion in revenue in 2024, a sharp decline from the record $10.25 billion achieved in the 2022–2023 fiscal year. This significant drop, totaling over 60%, is due to security issues in the Red Sea causing ships to avoid the route.

[BumRushDaShow]

50. I'm not necessarily talking about Egypt

I'm talking about the Arabic term "baksheesh" (tip/bribe).

[EX500rider]

51. No sane Egyptian is helping by smuggling anti-ship assets across Egypt for Russia

The govt might give the death penalty for that one plus any cargo ship leaving Russian waters is watched these days for cargo & destination.

Egypt retains the death penalty, utilizing hanging for civilians and firing squads for military personnel. It is one of the top executing nations in Africa, with recent figures showing dozens of executions annually for crimes like murder, terrorism, and drug trafficking, with sentences reviewed by the Grand Mufti.

[BumRushDaShow]

54. Stop fixating on "Egypt"

and instead consider what happens CULTURALLY in ARAB countries.

When I was in Cairo, the hotel I was in was filled with Saudis (cuties too ).

[EX500rider]

55. Yes currently in CULTURALLY ARAB countries the Houthis are unpopular

for making ships avoid the Red Sea & Suez canal, losing them billions in $

Be a lot easier for Russia to just supply weapons across the Caspian to Iran but don't expect much to happen there either as Russia needs all its munitions and then some for Ukr

[BumRushDaShow]

56. Doesn't even matter which nationality or politically-affiliated group

You give those "couriers" enough M - O - N - E - Y and they will "deliver the goods" in whatever manner they can.

I remember posting something about the small groups of Houthis who were actually operating along the Yemen coast attacking and hijacking ships entering the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden. I don't recall what article I cited but here is one - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68031732 but that mentions their transferring stuff via boats.

Another article describing this - https://www.voanews.com/a/how-houthi-attacks-on-ships-in-red-sea-affect-global-trade/7399631.html

In other words, they don't have to do a "land route" and in this case, my original assertion was that at some point, the Houthis may help Iran "from the other side" to force Israel to fight on even more fronts. They have so far been silent.

ETA remember too that the "unpopular" you cite might be due to their being Shia in Sunni territory but at some point, the sects may drop their differences if they believe Islam itself, is under attack.

[EX500rider]

57. Undoubtedly they're low on weapons

Iran lost a lot of theirs during the last attack they certainly don't have a lot to spare to those guys

[BumRushDaShow]

58. They don't need that many to cause havoc in Israel

It will come down to "guerilla warfare".

That couple hypersonics that the Houthis lobbed at Israel that penetrated their defenses, were enough to cause panic in the IDF, particularly when at least one was armed with cluster bombs.

IOW, they don't need a "swarm".

[nitpicked]

13. Oil immediately crashed

Then rebounded some.

https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/@CL.1

[BumRushDaShow]

18. It's generally been trading in the $70 - $75 range for the past week

https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/cl.1?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqdUPNlQb815D-OZm0f0WPtfSBXU-uYQbRbU3QGUd2zdV9C4_uyGajFH&gaa_ts=69a74df0&gaa_sig=GWMDXOUTYaENG0AZ0Ix7eA3X7CsJcQ4r6w8ZnRHf0zhBPxn9MEgZQ_IyTselutlVEw8wXL1DkTpDduLGkjhBvQ%3D%3D

[underpants]

7. What about oil in the Gulf of Tonkin? Is the USS Maine available?

[sarisataka]

9. We did the same thing during the Tanker War phase

Of the Iran-Iraq War.

The difference was then we were not a party to the conflict so much of the protection relied on neither country wanting the US to join the conflict.

Since we are a primary participant, providing close escorts brings high value targets within close range of Iranian weapons. The Iranians then have two targets to shoot at instead of one.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. But there is ANOTHER HUGE DIFFERENCE

in that hundreds of these didn't exist -

(From here - https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ukraine-middle-east-iran-drones-missiles-ai-bahrain-dubai-b2930134.html_

We lost 6 troops who were stationed in a supposedly "fortified" (triple wide) Command center, from an OVERHEAD hit.

We are in a WHOLE NEW WORLD now.

Ask Ukraine.

[questionseverything]

53. We never said we would guarantee the money part before

That’s the insane part

[Whip-poor-will]

14. little child rapist

Jesus " Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. "

Didn't Pete read Luke 14 vs 26/33 quoted ? Christians my ass

800 + ships are waiting with those LNG ships a super prize a big boom how much would protection cost ?

We are in a clown car on the highway to hell

[Brother Buzz]

16. Socialize the costs, privatize the profits

[OC375]

19. What better time to start moving away from oil all together?

[delisen]

46. In less than 200 years,oilmen have created a colossal mess

threatening the our existence and planet,
.
I want the clean alternatives, not this oily crap.

[Emile]

24. GOP Grand Oil Party

[Prairie Gates]

25. Ground troops were deployed to Vietnam merely to protect the airfields, don't forget

[Bread and Circuses]

27. We've entered the " Way Back Machine for Wars " .....we're re-living

All the bad parts of the 1970’s and 80’s.


I am soooooo Happy that our Taxes are paying to protect corporate oil thugs.

AGAIN! Our military is basically a security firm for the billionaires.

[Polybius]

30. "Why not ask Muskrat to kick in a couple hundred million."

Since he runs a pro-electric/anti-oil company, that sure would be ironic.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Not "ironic"

if he wants more government contracts since he is now competing full on with Bezos and his Blue Origin and was willing to put SpaceX's assets on the line to bolster his own xAI and Grok.

[Polybius]

36. I get what you're saying, but I don't want and EV head to be forced to pay specifically for oil

I do, however, want his taxes raised by the billions just because he unfairly pays too little. Bezos and Gates and all the rest too.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. It might not just be "for oil" either

Recall the reason for invading and taking over Greenland.

Iran’s Rare Earth and Lithium Industries Strategic Development Analysis



It's all about the "tech bros" and making chips.

[Skittles]

33. but FUCK YOU if you want affordable health insurance

[Grins]

37. Yes. Where's the $$ for this? And was it part of the "plan?"

There is no way Trump and his ass kissers in State and the Pentagon included this in their planning. Or what the goal is, or what “winning” includes, or what happens after hostilities end in Iran.

It’s the all-important - and still unanswered - “…and then what?” question.

[Jarqui]

40. Probably just occurred to Trump that midterms might not

go very well with high gas prices

[CountAllVotes]

52. Gas was up to $5.49 a gallon yesterday

Managed to get $20 in the old car -- a whopping four gallons at the "cheaper" place!

[NowsTheTime]

41. Happened on this youtube video...