Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday brushed aside fears that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the war with Iran would pose a long-term threat to the United States or the global economy. Pressed about when ships might move freely through the waterway again, Hegseth replied on Friday, “The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping. It is open for transit should Iran not do that.”
Speaking during a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said Iran had been “exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz.” As regards the difficulty in getting oil tankers through the strait, he said "We have been dealing with it, and don’t need to worry about it,” he said with regard to the threat of Iran shutting off the waterway.
Hegseth also stressed that the US military is prepared for different developments in the region. “We have a plan for every option here,” he said. “We’re working with our interagency partners. That’s not a strait we’re going to allow to remain contested or a lack of flow of international goods.” When questioned about Iranian naval mines that could be placed in the Strait of Hormuz, Caine responded, “We retain a range of options to solve a whole variety of problems.”
Hegseth further predicted that Iran’s defense industry would soon be crippled, saying “soon and very soon, all of Iran’s defense companies will be destroyed.” He added that as of two days earlier, every firm involved in producing parts for Iran’s ballistic missile program “has been functionally defeated.”
The comments from Hegseth in the press briefing comes as there has been an increase in oil prices after Iran closed off the Strait of Hormuz. However, the US is not strongly dependent on the oil supply in Iran unlike others in the region around Iran. Gas prices, however, have increased.
Hegseth slammed reports that the US didn’t have a plan to handle Iran shutting down the strait before the Trump administration ordered the attack. “Of course, for decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do, hold the strait hostage,” he said. “We planned for it. We recognize it."
Speaking during a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said Iran had been “exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz.” As regards the difficulty in getting oil tankers through the strait, he said "We have been dealing with it, and don’t need to worry about it,” he said with regard to the threat of Iran shutting off the waterway.
Hegseth also stressed that the US military is prepared for different developments in the region. “We have a plan for every option here,” he said. “We’re working with our interagency partners. That’s not a strait we’re going to allow to remain contested or a lack of flow of international goods.” When questioned about Iranian naval mines that could be placed in the Strait of Hormuz, Caine responded, “We retain a range of options to solve a whole variety of problems.”
Hegseth further predicted that Iran’s defense industry would soon be crippled, saying “soon and very soon, all of Iran’s defense companies will be destroyed.” He added that as of two days earlier, every firm involved in producing parts for Iran’s ballistic missile program “has been functionally defeated.”
The comments from Hegseth in the press briefing comes as there has been an increase in oil prices after Iran closed off the Strait of Hormuz. However, the US is not strongly dependent on the oil supply in Iran unlike others in the region around Iran. Gas prices, however, have increased.
Hegseth slammed reports that the US didn’t have a plan to handle Iran shutting down the strait before the Trump administration ordered the attack. “Of course, for decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do, hold the strait hostage,” he said. “We planned for it. We recognize it."
