<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday warned Iran against disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, saying President Donald Trump was prepared to respond with overwhelming force if Tehran tried to choke one of the world\u2019s most sensitive energy routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warning came as Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine offered a fresh battlefield update on ‘Operation Epic Fury’ and sought to show that the US campaign remained tightly focused on Iran\u2019s missile, naval, and military-industrial capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I would reiterate also to — to add to what the Chairman said, the truth, the President posted last night about that saying if Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America, 20 times harder than they have been hit thus far,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added: \u201cDeath, fire, and fury will rain upon them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The narrow waterway remains a critical route for oil and gas shipments from the Gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caine said the military was actively examining options if the US were tasked with protecting vessels in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn the — on the potential, if tasked to escort, you know, we\u2019ll look at the range of options to set the military conditions to be able to do that,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then, like we always do with every potential mission, come to the secretary and the President with both, what are the resources required, what is the command and control required, and what are the risks and how do we mitigate those risks?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hegseth argued that Iran had worsened its own position by widening the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBig mistake by the Iranian regime to start targetting its neighbours right away, exposing who they are and what they\u2019re all about, indiscriminate targeting flailing recklessly at the beginning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also pushed back on suggestions that the war was spreading. \u201cI see in the media banners that say war expanding or war spreading, it\u2019s actually the opposite. It\u2019s actually quite contained,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caine said the broader US campaign was still centered on three goals: reducing Iranian ballistic missile and drone capability, damaging its navy, and striking deeper into its military and industrial base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Caine, US strikes have now hit \u201cmore than 5000 targets\u201d and ballistic missile attacks from Iran have trended downward, \u201c90 % from where they\u2019ve started,\u201d while one-way attack drones have fallen \u201c83 % since the beginning of the operation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hegseth said the administration was determined not to allow the war to drift. \u201cThis is not endless. It\u2019s not protracted. We\u2019re not allowing mission creep,\u201d he said. \u201cThe President has said a very specific mission to accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It has long been one of the world\u2019s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, and any threat to shipping there is closely watched by energy markets and major importers such as India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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