US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday (March 13th) that the United States is ready to respond to any attempts by Iran to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Washington will not allow the strategic waterway to remain contested.
Speaking to reporters at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth sought to reassure global markets and shipping operators that the situation was under control.
“It’s something we’re looking into, we’ve been looking into it, and you don’t have to worry about it,” Hegseth said.
Iran accused of disrupting shipping
Hegseth said the strait remains open, but argued that Iran’s actions are the primary factor impeding normal maritime transit.
“The only thing that prohibits transit in the strait now is that Iran is shooting at shipping. If Iran didn’t do that, transit is open,” he said.
The Pentagon chief said the United States had long viewed Iran’s naval capabilities as a key factor in its ability to threaten global trade routes.
The US has targeted Iran’s naval capabilities
Hegseth said one of Washington’s main military goals was to weaken Iran’s ability to interfere with maritime traffic.
“There is a reason why we have chosen to destroy the Navy as one of our main objectives,” he said.
“We understood that the ability to interdict shipping is something that Iran has been doing for 40 years. It’s key terrain.”
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, transporting a large share of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
The US is ready for escalation
Hegseth said the United States is closely monitoring Iran’s rhetoric about possible escalation and has prepared for a number of scenarios.
“We’ve heard them talk about taking different measures and we’re planning for all of them. We have a plan here for every eventuality,” he said.
He reiterated that the US will not allow the strategic waterway to remain in jeopardy.
“This is not a strait we’re going to fight for,” Hegseth said.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s call for continued blockade
The remarks came after Mojtaba Khamenei’s first speech as Iran’s supreme leader called for continued pressure through the blockade of the strategic waterway.
“The desire of the masses of the people is the continuation of an effective and regrettable defense. In addition, the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must certainly continue to be used,” Mojtaba Khamenei said.
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Strait of Hormuz in the spotlight
The Strait of Hormuz has come into global focus as tensions rise following joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Commercial ships in the Straits and the Persian Gulf have recently faced the risk of attack by missiles and drones linked to Iran.
The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean and lies between Iran and the Omani exclave of Musandam.
The narrow waterway is about 50 km wide in places and is geographically vulnerable to military encroachment.
Several strategic islands in the area – including Hormuz, Qeshm, Larak and the disputed Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa – are under Iranian control.
Around 20 million barrels of oil a day pass through the strait – about one-fifth of global consumption – along with about 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade, mainly from Qatar.
Alternative export routes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates can handle only about 2.6 million barrels per day, far less than the total Hormuz traffic.
Read also | The representative of the Iranian leader clarifies that Tehran has not blocked the Strait of Hormuz
