Hegseth Demands Allies Share Hormuz Burden
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- Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon news conference on March 31 that the US has done the "lion's share" of work countering Iran and other countries must step up to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of world oil and gas flows.
- Donald Trump posted on Truth Social earlier that day urging countries that did not help in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran to buy American oil and "just TAKE" the Strait, singling out Britain and France as unhelpful in the month-long war.
- Trump told CBS News he is "not quite yet" ready to abandon US efforts to reopen the Strait, saying countries "have to come in and take care of it."
- Hegseth cited US intelligence saying strikes are "damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and frustrations amongst senior leaders," calling the "upcoming days... decisive."
- Asked about Russia and China aiding Iran, Hegseth said Washington "knows exactly what they're doing" and is "addressing it, mitigating it or confronting it head on" without elaborating.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has been supplying Iran with drones and intelligence to help Tehran during the conflict.
Why it matters: The US is publicly demanding allied nations — especially Britain and France — take military responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway carrying a fifth of global oil and gas. Trump told CBS he is "not quite yet" ready to walk away, but a prolonged closure has already driven up energy prices and roiled global markets per the source.
