Bessent says ‘international coalition’ could escort tankers through Strait of Hormuz

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The Hill's Headlines — March 12, 2026

The Hill's Headlines — March 12, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that an “international coalition” could escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Are you starting to think, if this does keep persisting as it is, that the Navy has to go into the Strait of Hormuz to — to help ships get through, which would have a big effect on —” Sky News’s Wilfred Frost asked Scott Bessent in an interview.

“Look, that was always in our planning, that there’s the chance that U.S. Navy or perhaps an international coalition will be escorting oil tankers through,” Bessent replied. “There are, in fact, tankers coming through now, Iranian tankers, I believe some Chinese-flagged tankers have come through, so, we know that they have not mined the straits.”

Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has been held up for close to two weeks amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. President Trump said Wednesday that the strait was in “great shape,” but Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, on Thursday asserted that the waterway would remain closed.

Three ships in the Strait of Hormuz were hit by unknown projectiles on Wednesday, per the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. The agency also said that one of the strikes resulted in a fire on board one of the ships.

On Thursday, U.K. Secretary of Defense John Healey said that his government has “seen the reports overnight of more civilian commercial ships that have been attacked, unarmed, doing their normal business.”

“This is a major escalation from Iran. It is a breach of international law. It’s a very serious situation that is having an impact on oil prices and the cost of living for everyone,” he added.

A British official told The Hill on Thursday that “Iran’s reckless attacks on commercial shipping are intolerable.”

“The UK absolutely recognizes the need to maintain freedom of navigation through the Straits,” the official added. “We are working closely with our partners and allies to consider maritime security options.”

Mujtaba Rahman, managing director of Europe at the Eurasia Group, told The Hill that while no formal escort request has been made by the U.S., Europeans are worried that this is where it is heading.

“I think it is quite likely Trump will ask but not likely the French or EU will agree. There is certainly no chance of the French and other Europeans taking that risk while the U.S. Navy is refusing,” he said. “If U.S. ships and aircraft go in there will be pressure on the French to do the same, but they insist at present that they would only get involved when the main firing is over. No question of joining a joint operation with the U.S.”

The Group of Seven (G7) said in its own statement that “G7 Leaders agreed to establish coordination to prepare for the restoration of freedom of navigation in the region.”

“In this regard, work has been launched to explore the possibility of escorting vessels when security conditions allow,” the statement continued.

The Hill has reached out to the embassies of France, Italy and Finland in Washington, D.C.

Sarakshi Rai contributed reporting.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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