According to Aljazeera News, a top US military commander has been forced to clarify that American forces are blockading only Iranian ports, not the entire Strait of Hormuz, walking back remarks made by President Donald Trump just days earlier.
General Dan Caine, who has been nominated to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued the correction amid growing confusion over the scope of US naval operations in the strategic waterway. Trump had previously suggested a broader blockade of the strait itself, a vital chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Caine sought to narrow the administration’s position, emphasizing that the military action targets specific Iranian facilities rather than threatening international shipping lanes.
“US General Dan Caine was forced to clarify that the US military is only blockading Iranian ports, not the entire Strait of Hormuz as President Donald Trump initially said just days earlier, a defense official confirmed, summarizing the general’s remarks.
The clarification comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with Iranian officials threatening retaliatory measures if maritime routes are disrupted. Gulf Arab states and European allies had expressed alarm following Trump’s initial statement, fearing economic fallout from a full strait closure.
Caine’s correction appeared aimed at reassuring global energy markets and regional partners that commercial vessels would continue to transit the strait unimpeded. However, the mixed messaging from the administration has raised questions about coordination between the White House and military leadership.
Iran has not yet officially responded to the clarified blockade, but its naval commanders have warned that any aggression near its coastline would be met with force…..See More
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