The American Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, stated on Tuesday that naval traffic in the Persian Gulf and oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz are increasing, even as Washington and Tehran strive to reach an agreement to end the conflict that has already lasted for over three months and has affected the entire Middle East region, reports Reuters.
Wright made these statements at a conference of the Atlantic Council and added that it will take many months to return to normal flows of energy and critical materials, such as sulfur, helium, and lubricants, once a lasting peace is achieved.
He stated that oil exports through the strategic strait and the Persian Gulf have increased and “will continue to increase”, notes hotnews.ro.
“I would say that (the transports) are significantly increasing,” Wright responded, when asked how naval traffic through the strait compares to a week or two ago.
The navigation of ships through the strait was largely blocked following the launch of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, from the end of February, interrupting approximately 20% of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas. Some ships have begun to transit the strait bordering Iran, often with transponders turned off and in darkness.