US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said the Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen by the end of the summer, while warning that military action remains an option if Iran continues to restrict maritime traffic through the key global shipping route.
Speaking to CNBC from an LNG facility in Cameron, Louisiana, Wright said a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran could be reached within days despite ongoing tensions linked to a fragile ceasefire agreement that was initially brokered by Pakistan on April 8 and later extended under US President Donald Trump.
Wright stressed that Washington prefers a negotiated settlement but warned that continued disruption could prompt a forceful response. He said reopening the waterway by military means would be possible but “not trivial.”
“If Iran continues to hold the world economy hostage, the US military will force the reopening of the Straits of Hormuz,” he said, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the preferred path forward.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints, and any disruption has immediate global economic consequences. Rising tensions have already contributed to pressure on fuel markets.
At the same time, the American Automobile Association reported that the average gasoline price in the United States stood at $4.53 per gallon on Friday, fueling domestic debate over energy policy and proposed tax relief measures.
Wright also noted that US liquefied natural gas exports are increasing, which he said could help stabilize supply chains affected by instability in the region.
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