Hegseth was joined at his Tuesday morning briefing by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine.
Caine says the military is considering options to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is open for tanker traffic but has not yet been asked to escort tankers through the narrow passage.
Speaking at the Pentagon news briefing, Caine said says military leaders are looking at “a range of options” and would present them to Trump if asked.
Hegseth noted Trump’s threat on Monday to increase strikes on Iran by 20 times if it stops the flow of oil through the Strait. He also said Iran’s decision to target its neighbors was a desperate move that would only drive other Middle East nations toward the U.S.
