US Energy Department blames staff for errant Navy escort post

March 11 (Reuters) - Staff at the U.S. Department of Energy were responsible for a post on Energy Secretary Chris Wright's official X account on Tuesday that had incorrectly stated the U.S. Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a department spokesperson.

The post, which was quickly deleted, had raised hopes in the global oil industry of resumed oil and gas shipments through the crucial waterway, which has been effectively closed since Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran started Feb. 28. Around a fifth of the world's oil and gas normally moves through the narrow strait between Iran and Oman, and its closure has triggered a spike in global energy prices.

"A video clip was deleted from Secretary Wright’s official X account after it was determined to be incorrectly captioned by Department of Energy staff," a department spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement.

"President Trump, Secretary Wright, and the rest of the President’s energy team are closely monitoring the situation, speaking with industry leaders, and having the U.S. military draw up additional options to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, including the potential for our Navy to escort tankers," the spokesperson said.

The White House had clarified on Tuesday that the Navy had not yet escorted any vessels through the strait.