Treasury secretary says US will 'retake control' of Strait of Hormuz, establish freedom of navigation
Bessent says Houthis in Yemen have been 'very quiet,' plays down Red Sea concerns
ISTANBUL
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that Washington would eventually retake control of the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation.
"Over time, the US is going to retake control of the straits, and there will be freedom of navigation, whether it is through US escorts or a multinational escort," Bessent told Fox News.
Asked about the potential involvement of Yemen's Houthi group and the situation in the Red Sea, Bessent played down the concerns, saying the Houthis had been "very quiet."
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March, with around 20 million barrels of oil passing through it daily, representing roughly 20% of global supply. Its closure has pushed oil prices higher and raised fears of prolonged economic disruption.
Trump previously issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, threatening to strike its power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the waterway, but later expanded the timeline, citing negotiations.
The US-Israeli strikes against Iran began Feb. 28 and have reportedly killed at least 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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