Key Points:
- Shipping through the strait disrupted after February 28 US and Israeli strikes on Iran
- Rising global concerns over energy security and oil supply routes
- US military leadership reshuffle ordered by Pete Hegseth
- United Nations Security Council delays vote on multinational force for Hormuz protection
- Iran Foreign Minister warns against further escalation
- Iran condemns US and Israeli bridge strikes as “war crime”
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and “take the oil and make a fortune,” describing the action as a potential “gusher” for the world.
“With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A ‘GUSHER’ FOR THE WORLD???” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Shipping through the strait, which carries a significant share of the world’s oil exports, has been severely curtailed since the February 28 strikes on Iran by US and Israeli forces, triggering heightened regional tensions and fears over energy security.
US fires Army Chief, Several Generals
It may be recalled that the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday asked Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to step down and retire with immediate effect, marking the latest move in a broader reshuffle of senior military leadership at the Pentagon.
According to Military Times, quoting a Pentagon official, Hegseth also removed Gen. David Horne, a former Army Ranger who had been overseeing the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green, the Army chief of chaplains.
UN delays vote on force to protect Hormuz shipping
The United Nations Security Council has delayed a scheduled vote on a Bahrain-sponsored resolution that would authorise a multinational “defensive” force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor increasingly endangered by ongoing conflict.
The vote, originally set for Friday morning, was delayed with no new date announced. Diplomats cited the observance of Good Friday as the official reason for the postponement. However, the timing has raised questions, as the holiday was already known when the vote was first added to the agenda.
Iran warns against escalation
Iran has warned against any actions it considers provocative. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that moves taken within the United Nations Security Council framework could further escalate tensions and hinder efforts to stabilize the region.
The Strait of Hormuz—a crucial chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass—remains vital to global trade. Its near closure has already had far-reaching effects, disrupting energy markets and the supply of essential commodities, including fertilisers.
Drone strike hits aid warehouse in Southern Iran
Meanwhile a drone strike has hit an aid warehouse in southern Iran, damaging relief supplies and emergency vehicles, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Reuters reported.
The incident occurred in Bushehr province earlier in the day, where the strike destroyed two aid containers, two buses, and several emergency response vehicles, a spokesperson said.
Iran condemns US, Israel bridge strikes as ‘War Crime’
Iran has also strongly condemned recent attacks on its infrastructure, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei describing US and Israeli strikes on bridges as a “war crime in the style of ISIS terrorism,” according to reports.
The remarks came after a key bridge linking Tehran to Karaj was partially damaged in an attack, amid escalating tensions following warnings from US President Donald Trump about intensifying strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
In a post on X, Baghaei criticised the attacks, stating that targeting major bridges—symbols of the expertise and dedication of Iranian engineers and workers—does not strengthen those responsible for the strikes.
