More than 8 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday under the protection of United States military forces as renewed fighting with Iran intensified.

This was disclosed in a statement by the
U.S. Energy Department on Monday, according CNBC.

“The U.S. military will ensure oil flows continue, with or without the Iranians, to keep markets well supplied,” an Energy Department spokesperson said Monday.

Total oil exports from the Middle East Gulf region are averaging 15 million barrels per day, the spokesperson said.

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply over the past week after Iranian attacks on commercial vessels triggered renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran.

According to trade intelligence firm Kpler, 14 ships transited the strategic waterway on Sunday, including four crude oil tankers, marking a roughly 60% decline from the 37 vessels that passed through on the corresponding day a week earlier.

Before the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, more than 100 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz each day.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States would reinstate its naval blockade against Iran, targeting only Iranian vessels.

He also said all other ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz should pay the U.S. a fee equivalent to 20% of the value of their cargo as compensation for security protection.

U.S. Central Command said over the weekend that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and maritime traffic continues to move through the vital waterway.

However, some vessels are navigating the southern corridor with their transponders switched off, making it difficult to determine the full volume of ship movements.

The security environment in the Strait of Hormuz has deteriorated sharply over the past week, with Iran carrying out repeated attacks on commercial vessels using the U.S.-protected shipping lane along Oman’s coastline.