Administration disputes claims of shutdown, calls any disruption to global shipping “unacceptable”
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The White House on Wednesday warned Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open following reports suggesting the key shipping route had been closed in response to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing, which can be viewed here, that reports of a closure were “completely unacceptable” and contradicted information provided to U.S. officials through diplomatic channels.
“The president was made aware of those reports before I came to the podium,” Leavitt said. “That is completely unacceptable. This is a case of what they’re saying publicly is different privately. We have seen an uptick of traffic in the Strait today.”
She added that Donald Trump expects the waterway to remain open. “I will reiterate the president’s expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely,” she said. “That is his expectation. It has been relayed to him privately that that is what’s taking place and these reports publicly are false.”
The statements follow a two-week ceasefire agreement reached Tuesday between the United States and Iran, brokered with assistance from Pakistan. However, tensions remain over whether the agreement extends to fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran has argued that continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon violate the terms of the ceasefire and has warned that the truce could collapse if the United States does not intervene. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has maintained that the agreement requires broader de-escalation, including in Lebanon.
U.S. officials have rejected that interpretation, stating that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire framework.
Meanwhile, Israel said it carried out what it described as its largest coordinated operation in Lebanon since the start of its current campaign, targeting roughly 100 sites associated with Hezbollah infrastructure as part of Operation Roaring Lion.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes, is a critical artery for international energy supplies, with a significant share of the world’s oil passing through it daily. The White House warning underscores concerns that any disruption could have immediate global economic consequences.
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