On March 13, 2026, Hegseth responded dismissively to valid questions about [[Iran]]'s control of the [[Strait of Hormuz]]: "It's something we're dealing with, we have been dealing with it, and [you] don't need to worry about it," Hegseth said. He insisted that the [[U.S.]] would not allow this essential shipping channel to "remain contested."<ref>https://abcnews.com/Politics/hegseth-worry-strait-hormuz-us-time-counter-irans/story?id=131036790</ref> | On March 13, 2026, Hegseth responded dismissively to valid questions about [[Iran]]'s control of the [[Strait of Hormuz]]: "It's something we're dealing with, we have been dealing with it, and [you] don't need to worry about it," Hegseth said. He insisted that the [[U.S.]] would not allow this essential shipping channel to "remain contested."<ref>https://abcnews.com/Politics/hegseth-worry-strait-hormuz-us-time-counter-irans/story?id=131036790</ref> |