U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the United States has been able to control the Strait of Hormuz “all along,” despite a shipping freeze that has affected global trade. According to reporting, Hegseth maintains that the United States is “ready” to push Iran to reopen the strait fully once a political or security deal is signed. The comments come amid ongoing economic disruptions tied to reduced shipping through the vital waterway that connects major oil and shipping routes. While outlets highlight the broader impact of the freeze on commerce and energy flows, they also report Hegseth’s counter to the idea that Washington’s leverage only began during the disruption. Instead, he frames the U.S. position as having been in place prior to the freeze. The coverage centers on the U.S. administration’s stated stance on how it plans to respond to the situation and under what conditions it expects shipping to resume at full capacity.