US President Donald Trump removed the Secretary of the Navy amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where US forces are actively managing maritime operations and enforcing a blockade. The sudden move follows months of internal disagreements within the Pentagon, particularly over delays in shipbuilding reforms and the pace of naval expansion.  

The US-led naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz was projected as a decisive move to choke Iranian oil flows, but new data tells a far more complicated story. At least 34 Iran-linked tankers have reportedly continued navigating through key Gulf routes, quietly transporting millions of barrels of crude despite strict enforcement claims. Of these, 19 vessels exited through monitored corridors while 15 more entered from the Arabian Sea, indicating that maritime traffic tied to Iran hasn’t slowed the way Washington intended. What’s more striking is the scale, over 10.7 million barrels of crude oil moved under watch, with discounted shipments nearing $900 million in value. This raises a critical question: how effective is the blockade if such volumes are still making it through?