U.S. Military Plans to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that joint military operations by the United States and Israel have struck around 15,000 targets in Iran since the start of their campaign. He also acknowledged that shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has been significantly disrupted and described the situation as an issue the U.S. military is actively addressing.
During a press briefing, Hegseth said the United States intends to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes, through which roughly 20% of global oil supplies normally pass. However, he did not provide detailed information on how the operation would be carried out.
U.S. Aims to Neutralize Threats in the Strait of Hormuz
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that some container ships have continued navigating the narrow waterway south of Iran. However, Iran has reportedly targeted vessels attempting to cross the strait.
Caine explained that U.S. forces are working to neutralize Iran’s potential ability to deploy naval mines in the strategic shipping corridor. At the same time, Hegseth said there is currently no clear evidence that Iran has already deployed such mines.
Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has pledged to continue attacks aimed at keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. The disruption to tanker traffic has created concerns about global oil supply shortages, contributing to rising oil prices and increasing fears of inflation across major economies.
Intensified Military Campaign Against Iran
Hegseth described the latest planned military operations as the most intense phase of the nearly two-week conflict. He stated that U.S. and Israeli forces will continue their offensive, claiming that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened.
The defense secretary also asserted that Khamenei had been injured and possibly disfigured during a recent attack, though further details were not provided.
Trump Claims Iran Is Near Surrender
The comments came after President Donald Trump reportedly told leaders of the G7 nations during a virtual meeting that Iran was close to surrendering. According to a report by Axios citing officials briefed on the call, Trump said the United States had “eliminated a major threat” through its military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury.
Trump also suggested that Iran’s internal leadership situation had become unstable, making it difficult for the country to formally announce a surrender.
According to the report, Trump told allies that no clear leadership structure currently exists in Iran, leaving uncertainty over who could officially negotiate or declare an end to the conflict.
Drone and Missile Strikes Continue Across the Region
On Friday, Iran and U.S.-Israeli forces continued to exchange drone and missile attacks across several parts of the Middle East.
Trump also adopted a strong tone in a social media post, describing Iran’s leadership as dangerous and stating that eliminating them would be a major strategic achievement.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military confirmed the loss of a KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft in western Iraq on March 12. The aircraft crashed at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern Time, and four of the six crew members on board have been confirmed dead. Rescue operations for the remaining personnel are ongoing.
U.S. Central Command said the incident is under investigation and emphasized that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
General Caine paid tribute to the crew, noting that U.S. service members make extraordinary sacrifices while carrying out missions on behalf of the nation.
Iran’s Economic Strategy Raises Global Concerns
Although Iran may be facing military pressure, analysts warn that Tehran’s strategy of disrupting global energy markets by threatening the Strait of Hormuz has proven effective.
The disruption has already triggered higher oil prices and increased uncertainty in global financial markets.
According to analysts, reopening the strategic waterway may prove difficult, as there is no clear military solution to fully securing the Strait of Hormuz during an active conflict.
Adam Crisafulli, an analyst at Vital Knowledge, said the situation highlights the challenges facing financial markets.
He noted that while the United States may be seeking a path to de-escalation, it does not have complete control over how the conflict evolves.
Crisafulli added that both sides appear to be exercising some restraint for now. U.S. and Israeli forces have not yet significantly targeted Iran’s oil infrastructure, and Iran continues exporting oil through the region. Additionally, the Houthi forces in Yemen, which are aligned with Iran, have not yet entered the conflict.
Despite this limited restraint, analysts warn that the situation could either move toward compromise or escalate further in the coming weeks.
