WorldPosted at: Mar 13 2026 8:10PM


Iran leaders lead Al-Quds day rally as US adjusts military strategy on Strait of Hormuz

Tehran/Washington, March 13 (UNI) While Iranians took to the streets in Tehran to mark Al-Quds Day on Friday, the last Friday of Ramadan, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used the occasion to brief the media on Operation Epic Fury, addressing concerns over freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global oil supply.
Hegseth said the only disruptions to shipping in the strait were being caused by Iran itself and confirmed that destroying Iran’s naval capabilities and ensuring the unimpeded flow of energy resources remain primary US objectives.
He also linked the elimination of Iran’s ballistic missile program to broader nonproliferation goals, emphasizing that doing so would “ensure Iran gives up its nuclear capabilities and helps deny their nuclear capabilities,” signaling that denuclearization remains a strategic aim of the operation, even if not formally declared as a war objective.
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