Citing anonymous US officials, The New York Times reported on May 31 that the US military has covertly coordinated the passage of roughly 70 merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz over the past three weeks, amid drastically reduced shipping volume after US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran.

The US side keeps all navigation details confidential. Relevant officials declined to reveal vessel types and exact routes, only confirming the arranged lanes stay away from Iran’s coastline. Shipping analysts found most guided ships sail along waters close to Oman. Besides, all participating vessels turned off navigation transponders during transit, making independent verification of real ship numbers impossible for third parties.

Pre-conflict daily shipping data shows a sharp traffic slump: more than 100 merchant ships crossed the strait every day before US-Israeli military assaults on Iran, yet the 70 vessels in three weeks equal an average of merely three per day, far from marking a full recovery of strait navigation, according to industry insiders.

The secret navigation coordination follows the short-lived Project Freedom rolled out by the US military in early May. Washington suspended the escort plan abruptly after Saudi Arabia blocked US access to its military bases and national airspace over insufficient pre-operation consultation; US President Trump has repeatedly hinted at possible resumption of Project Freedom later on.

Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, stated in a May 30 announcement that formal military escort missions have been suspended for now, while the US will keep communicating with merchant carriers needing safe passage to facilitate their crossing of the strategic waterway, meaning Washington’s hidden intervention in strait shipping persists.