Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are rising again as the Pentagon accuses Iran of threatening one of the world’s most critical oil routes. U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the waterway remains technically open but warned that Iranian attacks on shipping are the only thing stopping vessels from passing safely. America’s top military leadership doubled down during a Pentagon briefing, placing direct blame on Tehran for the disruption to global trade. With nearly a fifth of the world’s oil moving through Hormuz, the latest claims are fueling fears of a dangerous escalation in the Gulf.