Tehran/Washington, March 13 -- While Iranians took to the streets in Tehran to mark Al-Quds Day on Friday, the last Friday of Ramadan, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used the occasion to brief the media on Operation Epic Fury, addressing concerns over freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical chokepoints for global oil supply.
Hegseth said the only disruptions to shipping in the strait were being caused by Iran itself and confirmed that destroying Iran's naval capabilities and ensuring the unimpeded flow of energy resources remain primary US objectives.
He also linked the elimination of Iran's ballistic missile program to broader nonproliferation goals, emphasizing that doing so would "ensure ...