The Energy secretary spoke to CNBC's Brian Sullivan in Venezuela on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump announced a massive oil deal with Caracas.

The ships were hit near Oman on Monday, the latest attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf. Oil prices rose more than 2 percent.

Two oil tankers have been struck by unknown projectiles on the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed fighting between Iran and the United States.

All eyes are on the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House, which could offer more clues to the U.S.-China trade relations as well as China's stance towards Iran amid the Mideast conflict.

Trump suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz "Trump Strait" after saying the strategic waterway is under U.S. control.

Trump suggests renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself as the White House backs the idea online and the Iran war shows no sign of easing.

Police said they saw the suspect holding a rifle, leading to the shooting near McQueen and Frye roads.

The US military escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a wartime high as Iran and the US exchanged a new round strikes on Tuesday, two US officials familiar with the operations told CNN.