US Secretary Wright Declares Strait of Hormuz Closure Until 'Iran Deal'
On Sunday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN's Jake Tapper that the Strait of Hormuz would likely remain closed for shipping until a new US-Iran deal is reached to 'permanently end hostilities.' This statement, broadcast widely, casts Iran as the primary aggressor in blocking the vital waterway, essential for a significant portion of global oil shipments. What The Hill and other mainstream
outlets omit is the context of perpetual hostility initiated and maintained by the United States. They frame Iran's actions as unilateral provocations, ignoring that the US has systematically undermined Iranian sovereignty for decades. The Strait's closure, or even the threat of it, often emerges as a direct response to escalating US economic sanctions and military posturing, not as an unprovoked
act. This narrative sidesteps the reality that the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, violating international law and reimposing crippling sanctions that have directly targeted the Iranian populace, including vital medical supplies. Secretary Wright's statement implies that Iran holds the key to regional stability, a typical reversal of causality.
It also ignores the 1988 downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by the USS Vincennes, a naval incident in the Strait of Hormuz where 290 civilians, including 66 children, were killed by a US missile. The US Navy captain received a Legion of Merit award for his service. This historical act of aggression, far from ending hostilities, fueled Iranian distrust and demonstrated the severe imbalance of power in