In recent weeks, U.S. military forces have been quietly assisting commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions with Iran, according to U.S. officials. Over the past three weeks, the U.S. Central Command reportedly coordinated the passage of approximately 70 commercial ships traveling into and out of the Persian Gulf, officials familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Most of the vessels involved reportedly had their transponders turned off, enabling what are known as "dark" passages to avoid detection. While officials did not specify the types of vessels or their precise routes, one source indicated that at least one path maintained some distance from the Iranian coastline, which faces significant risk from Iranian drones and missile attacks. Analysts have noted that the U.S.-guided routes more often appear to track closer to Oman’s side of the strait.

Before U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, the Strait of Hormuz regularly saw well over 100 commercial ships pass through daily. The current average of about three ships per day under U.S. coordination, therefore, signifies a limited resumption of traffic, though the actual number remains difficult to verify independently due to the use of transponder blackout.

The U.S.-coordinated passages offer an alternative for shipowners seeking to avoid requesting permission from Iranian authorities or paying fees, both conditions imposed under the heightened conflict. The war has contributed to notable reductions in energy supply to global markets, as the strait serves as a vital channel through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and a substantial portion of its natural gas trade.

While negotiations between the United States and Iran appeared near a breakthrough to reopen the strait last week, discussions have stalled after President Donald Trump reportedly hardened the terms of a proposed framework. In early May, the U.S. briefly launched a military operation, dubbed Project Freedom, aimed at securing the passage of vessels, but the initiative was quickly suspended due to pushback from regional allies, including Saudi Arabia.

Currently, U.S. forces are not conducting naval escorts but remain engaged in communication and coordination with ships transiting the strategic waterway. Captain Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, stated that American troops continue to facilitate safe and free passage given the strait’s critical importance to both regional stability and the global economy.

Despite these efforts, vessels face ongoing threats from Iran, which asserts control over the strait and has targeted ships attempting to pass without its clearance. In early May, a container ship was attacked while transiting the strait during Project Freedom, illustrating the dangers involved. The ship’s owner, France’s CMA CGM, said it maintained coordination with U.S. forces; however, Central Command noted that the vessel did not fully comply with operational guidelines.

Experts like Noam Raydan, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, acknowledge that the reported number of coordinated crossings exceeds prior expectations. However, given the covert nature of these dark passages and concerns over potential Iranian retaliation, full disclosure of ship identities is unlikely, according to Raydan.

Since mid-April, the U.S. has also implemented a blockade against ships that have recently docked at Iranian ports, reflecting a broader strategy to constrain Iran’s maritime activities amid escalating tensions in the region.