Video: Reopening Strait of Hormuz not sole US goal—Hegseth
Abdullateef Fowewe
United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth has signalled that fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, closed by Iran since mid-March 2026, is not a primary American objective, urging Gulf allies to take greater responsibility for securing the vital waterway.
Speaking amid Operation Epic Fury—the U.S.-led campaign targeting Iranian positions—Hegseth responded to questions about the strait, through which 21% of global oil trade flows.
“We’ve been willing to lead. President Trump has led the entire time, but it’s not just us. You might want to start learning how to fight for yourself,” he said in a video.
He continued: “There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well.
“It’s not just the United States Navy. This is not just our problem going forward, even though we have done the lion’s share of the preparation.”
The remarks underscore a shift in U.S. posture, deprioritising the strait’s full reopening as initial strikes have failed to dislodge Iranian forces.
Oil prices have surged above $150 per barrel, according to recent U.S. Energy Information Administration data, exacerbating global economic strain.
