U.S. Will Ensure Hormuz Oil Flow With or Without Iran Deal, Energy Secretary Says

The United States will continue to assure the flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz with or without Iranian cooperation, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday. Wright told ABC News's Jonathan Karl on This Week that President Trump prefers to end the conflict through a peaceful agreement. He added that any such deal requires two parties.

If Iran is not ready, the administration will maintain the flow without Tehran's help while continuing to degrade Iran's offensive military capabilities, Wright said. The remarks came more than a week after the United States resumed large-scale attacks on Iran overnight to July 8.

Washington had accused Tehran of breaching a June memorandum of understanding that called for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon.

The United States and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28. Wright described an earlier pause in fighting that lasted five and a half weeks after an initial four-to-six-week military phase. The pause aimed to reach an agreement allowing oil to move without attacks, he said.

Iran proved unwilling, prompting the administration to pivot, according to Wright. Wright stated that nearly 14 million barrels of oil per day have been flowing from the Gulf region, with about half passing through the Strait. Current volumes stand at a little under 14 million barrels a day, or two thirds of pre-conflict traffic, he said.

The national average for gasoline in the United States reached $4 on Sunday, according to AAA data. The figure is slightly higher than last month and more than 10 cents above last week's level. One year ago the average stood at $3.15.