WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping traffic has been virtually stopped since the start of the war with Iran, is actually “open” and that military leaders “don’t need to worry about it.”

“The only thing prohibiting transit in the strait right now is Iran firing on shipping. It’s open to transit if Iran doesn’t,” the former News weekend host told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

Hegseth, appearing particularly angry, also attacked media reports suggesting that Iran’s attacks on shipping were not foreseen by President Donald Trump and his top advisers when he unilaterally took the United States to war against that country two weeks ago.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth answers a question as he, President Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, speak with members of the media traveling on Air Force One March 7.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth answers a question as he, President Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, speak with members of the media traveling on Air Force One March 7.

Roberto Schmidt via Getty Images

“As the world is seeing, they are exerting pure desperation in the Strait of Hormuz, something we are dealing with. We have been dealing with it and we don’t need to worry about it,” he said, and then attacked CNN by name. “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.”

A CNN spokesperson said the network stands by its reporting.

About 20% of the world’s crude oil supply normally passes through the narrow passage between the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. That flow has slowed to a minimum, with the exception of Iran’s own oil.