Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khameini, just dropped a bombshell, stating that the crucial Strait of Hormuz must stay closed for as long as the war continues. This declaration comes as the region faces increased tensions, causing global energy prices to climb. Despite the gravity of the situation, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seemed pretty unfazed, stating, “We have been dealing with it; don’t need to worry about it,” as reported by The Hill.
Hegseth kicked off his remarks by declaring Iran’s Navy has been destroyed. He said, “As the world is seeing, they are exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz, something we’re dealing with. We have been dealing with it; don’t need to worry about it. We’re on plan to defeat, destroy, disable all of their meaningful military capabilities at a pace the world has never seen before.” He also pushed back hard against reports suggesting the administration underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait.
Hegseth added, “We understood the ability to interdict shipping is something Iran has done for years. It’s key terrain. They’ve used it as leverage. The world is seeing what they’ll do to fight back in that context. And so we’ve heard talk about taking various measures, and we’re planning for all of them. So we have a plan for every option here.”
Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. and its interagency partners won’t allow the Strait to remain contested or hinder the flow of commercial goods
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine confirmed the military is prioritizing efforts to counter Iran’s ability to mine the corridor, which is a major artery for about 20 percent of the world’s oil trade. Hegseth, however, noted the U.S. hasn’t detected any mines being laid yet. Both Hegseth and Caine maintained that the U.S. has delivered significant blows to Iran’s navy as part of Operation Epic Fury, which should cripple its power projection capabilities in the Strait.
However, Caine did acknowledge that Iran still poses a threat. He said, “We’ve made progress, but Iran still has the capability to harm friendly forces and commercial shipping, and our work on this effort continues,” specifically pointing to potential dangers from missiles and mines.
It’s a pretty terrifying truth for commercial vessels that the military has deemed it too risky to deploy naval escorts to protect them, despite desperate pleas from shipping companies. Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed optimism that naval escorts would likely be deployed by the end of the month. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent even floated the idea of an international coalition stepping up to secure the Strait. However, some military analysts are less optimistic, suggesting the U.S. might struggle to secure the Strait without a major escalation involving ground troops occupying the Iranian coastline.
The Strait, which is only about 21 miles wide, has already seen at least 16 ships hit during the conflict. Reports indicate that naval drones and explosive-laden unmanned ships have been used in these attacks.
The economic fallout is already hitting hard. Gulf states are scrambling to find alternative shipping routes for their oil, and the U.S. along with other major oil producers have committed to releasing hundreds of millions of barrels of oil to try and ease rising prices. Benchmark crude dipped just below $100 per barrel, but it could easily shoot up further if there isn’t quick progress in the Strait. Iran has been actively taunting the U.S., warning that global oil prices could even top $200 a barrel.
Published: Mar 13, 2026 03:15 pm