PetroVietnam requests US Navy escort for oil tanker through Strait of Hormuz

Vietnam's state-owned PetroVietnam Oil has urgently requested U.S. Navy assistance to allow a crude oil tanker loaded with Iraqi oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies amid escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The appeal, detailed in a formal letter from the company's trading arm, highlights the desperation of international shippers as commercial traffic has ground to a halt through the strait, which carries about one-fifth of the world's oil.

This request comes as other nations test the waters in the disrupted waterway. Ship tracking data from the London Stock Exchange Group and Kpler revealed that a massive Chinese-flagged oil tanker, carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude, attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Such bold moves underscore the high stakes for energy-dependent economies, with shipments choked off since the war's onset involving Iran and regional powers.

The U.S. has signaled a strong response to the crisis. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the U.S. Navy, potentially with an international coalition, would escort oil tankers through the strait as soon as militarily feasible, despite Iranian threats and reports of up to 10 mines laid in the area. President Donald Trump echoed this, indicating military escorts and war insurance for transiting tankers, though White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied any escorts have occurred so far.

Vietnam's plea adds to growing pressure on the U.S. amid reports of U.S. airstrikes targeting small Iranian naval vessels in the strait, further complicating oil flows. PetroVietnam's tanker, awaiting clearance, represents broader impacts on Asian importers reliant on Middle Eastern crude. European warships are en route to the Mediterranean in support, while Iranian and some Chinese-flagged tankers have navigated the route recently, suggesting selective passage amid the blockade.

The standoff threatens global markets, with ships avoiding the strait and alternative routes straining supply chains. U.S. officials maintain the waterway remains viable but risky, estimating mines have not fully blocked it. For countries like Vietnam, dependent on steady oil imports, resolution could determine economic stability, as stakeholders await U.S. Navy action to restore safe transit.