The Strait of Hormuz has been closed for 100 days, a historic disruption that has yet to trigger the oil price surge many analysts expected. President Donald Trump has asserted that a covert operation successfully transported 100 million barrels of crude through the waterway, though Wired reports this claim cannot be independently confirmed.
This closure represents an unprecedented choke on a passage through which roughly one-fifth of the world's petroleum transits daily. The lack of a corresponding price spike has puzzled observers, with some suggesting strategic reserves or undisclosed supply routes are cushioning the blow.
Trump's cited figure — 100 million barrels — would be roughly equivalent to one day of global oil consumption, yet no third-party data supports the operation's existence. Maritime tracking systems and satellite imagery have not shown significant deviations from normal shipping patterns, according to the report.
If the blockade persists without verification of such workarounds, the disconnect between the physical disruption and market indifference may eventually correct. Oil-importing nations face mounting pressure to disclose alternative supply arrangements or risk sudden price volatility.
Energy analyst skepticism remains high, as similar past claims have frequently lacked corroborating evidence. Without transparency, the market's calm may prove fragile.