Vance asserts that the United States is the only country capable of ensuring control over the Strait of Hormuz
Quick Look
- US Vice President J.D.
- Vance said that the United States is the only country capable of ensuring control over the Strait of Hormuz, noting that recent steps have made it difficult for Iran to target commercial ships, in order to ensure the flow of oil and gas to global energy markets, after Trump’s statements about going beyond US strikes to target Iranian radar systems and escort 40 commercial ships carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Tensions are escalating between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global oil and gas transportation, with the exchange of military strikes and the risk of disruption to energy supply chains.
(CNN) - US Vice President J.D. Vance said on Thursday that the United States is the only country capable of ensuring control over the Strait of Hormuz, at a time when tensions with Iran threaten commercial shipping and global energy markets.
Vance also sought to refute the idea that the United States is engaged in extensive, active combat operations, in response to a journalist's question about whether the administration intends to impose an indefinite naval blockade.
“Well, first of all, I would like to be a little cautious about the phrase ‘ending the war,’ because major combat operations are not currently underway, and have not been ongoing for a very long time,” Vance told reporters during a White House briefing.
Vance said the United States has recently taken steps to make it more difficult for Iran to target commercial ships, with the aim of ensuring the continued flow of oil and gas into global energy markets.
He added: "In fact, what we did just two days ago is that we made it difficult for the Iranians to target commercial shipping again, in order to ensure the flow of oil and gas to global energy markets."
The US Vice President said: “We are the only country in the world capable of ensuring control over the Strait of Hormuz, as you heard the president say. The Iranians do not want any barrel of oil to exit through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Vance's comments come a day after Trump said the recent US strikes went beyond targeting Iranian radar systems, in an attempt to prevent Tehran from tracking ships crossing the strategic waterway.
“They were trying to see the ships,” Trump said Wednesday. “But they can't see them because they don't have radar, because we blew it up, and we blew up a lot more than their radar last night.”
The US military escorted 40 commercial ships carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the largest number of ships escorted by the United States during the war, coinciding with Iran and the United States exchanging a new round of strikes on Tuesday, according to two US officials familiar with the operations who spoke to CNN.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The United States will continue to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the flow of oil
Likely · Within weeks
Iran may increase its use of indirect methods to target shipping if US pressure continues
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific steps has the United States taken to make it difficult for Iran to target commercial ships?
- Will Iran continue to try to disrupt navigation through the strait despite the US strikes?
- What is the long-term impact of these tensions on global oil prices?
