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Energy Secretary Christopher Wright: U.S. will ensure free flow through Strait of Hormuz, urges Iran to choose negotiation
Summary
U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright told a broadcast interview that the United States will guarantee maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — by agreement with Iran or unilaterally — and said Irans obstruction remains its principal leverage to press for concessions on its nuclear program.
U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright said the United States will guarantee the free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, either by reaching an agreement with Iran or by acting unilaterally if necessary.
"The United States is gonna have free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz," Wright said, arguing that Irans main leverage has been impeding maritime traffic and that restoring passage would remove that leverage and push Tehran back to negotiations. He added that the United States could act without Iran's consent if needed.
The interview followed questions from the programs host about recent comments by other officials and a presidential post that warned bombing could resume if Iran did not reach a deal. Wright framed the administration's objective as twofold: preventing a nuclear-armed Iran and ensuring uninterrupted trade through the strait. "No nuclear-armed Iran, free flow of trade through the Straits of Hormuz," he said, while acknowledging uncertainty about precise timing.
Wright tied the maritime security posture to broader U.S. leverage. He said the prospect that the U.S. military could open the strait "whether Iran wants it or not" altered Tehran's calculations and made returning to the negotiating table more appealing. He described Iran's leadership as long-standingly deceptive and suggested current pressure could produce political change within Iran.
The secretary's remarks came amid market movements noted during the interview: the host cited a morning rally, earlier gains of roughly 600 points on the Dow and recent oil price declines that she described as in the range of about 8–14 percent at various moments. Wright said U.S. crude loadings and export capacity have expanded in recent weeks, bolstering the nation's ability to supply allies if needed.
The interview did not include new operational orders or a specific timeline for military or diplomatic steps; Wright said the administration knows "where we're going" but would not commit to when the outcome would occur.
