US Secretary of War: Not ruling out use of military force in the Strait of Hormuz
US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, says that Washington does not rule out the use of military force in the Strait of Hormuz.
Assessment
The US Secretary of Defense publicly signals willingness to use military force in the Strait of Hormuz. This escalates the stakes for any confrontation there, especially with Iran. The phrasing leaves room for diplomatic alternatives but makes clear that Washington is not taking its most aggressive option off the table.