U.S. War
Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Iran bet on controlling the Strait of Hormuz
but failed, with oil still flowing under U.S. dominance as of late August 2026.
He made the comments during tensions sparked
in late February, urging Iran to negotiate its nuclear program while sharply
rebuking a reporter's question on troop plans.
Independent reports reveal shipping has
dropped to 4-7% of normal levels, with U.S. Navy escorts enabling about 5
million barrels daily versus 15 million pre-war, prompting online praise for
his directness alongside criticism that the control claim overstates reality.