U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz through an active naval blockade [1, 2].
The assertion comes as the U.S. seeks to pressure Iran economically by restricting movement through one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. Control of the waterway is a primary point of contention between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., Hegseth said that the blockade is achieving its goals. He said the effective closure is hurting Iran more than the United States [2]. Hegseth described the naval presence as a "red, white and blue dome" over the strait [3].
To illustrate the impact of the operation, Hegseth said that 65 ships had been turned around [1]. Other reports indicate that hundreds of commercial ships are currently lining up to leave the strait [3].
"Ultimately, we control the strait, because nothing’s going in that we don’t allow to go in," Hegseth said [1].
While U.S. officials maintain the blockade is effective, the level of control remains disputed. Some reports suggest that traffic in the waterway is only a fraction of previous levels, which may indicate limited U.S. control [3]. Additionally, both the United States and Iran claim authority over the strait [2].
“"Ultimately, we control the strait, because nothing’s going in that we don’t allow to go in."”
The U.S. strategy of using naval superiority to enforce an economic blockade represents a significant escalation in the geopolitical struggle over the Persian Gulf. By claiming total control of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. is attempting to leverage global energy markets to force Iranian concessions, though the conflicting reports on traffic levels suggest a precarious balance between military presence and actual maritime stability.
