WH Unveils New Move as Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz
Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically Thursday after Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly installed Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a declaration stating that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the current war comes to an end.
The message, read aloud by a news anchor on Iranian state television, warned that the strategic waterway — a vital corridor for global oil shipments — would remain blocked indefinitely. The Strait of Hormuz serves as one of the most critical energy chokepoints in the world, with a significant portion of global oil exports passing through the narrow passage.
Khamenei’s statement also urged neighboring Gulf nations to remove American military installations from their territory, escalating tensions between Tehran and the United States following Washington’s recent military operation against Iranian targets.
Fallout From Operation Epic Fury
The remarks come in response to Operation Epic Fury, a U.S.-led campaign targeting Iranian military assets. In retaliation, Iran has launched strikes across parts of the Middle East, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Khamenei himself did not appear publicly during the announcement.
According to Trey Yingst, chief foreign correspondent for Fox News, an Israeli intelligence official said the son of the late Iranian ayatollah was injured during one of the early strikes associated with the operation. However, the source reportedly downplayed claims that Khamenei suffered serious injuries.
White House Weighs Energy Emergency Measures
As the situation threatens global energy markets, the administration of President Donald J. Trump is exploring measures designed to keep energy supplies flowing to American consumers.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that officials are considering a temporary waiver of the Jones Act, a move intended to ensure essential energy shipments continue reaching U.S. ports despite disruptions caused by the Strait’s closure.
“In the interest of national defense, the White House is considering waiving the Jones Act for a limited period of time to ensure vital energy products and agricultural necessities are flowing freely to U.S. ports. This action has not been finalized,” Leavitt said.
The temporary waiver could help blunt the economic impact Iran hopes to inflict by restricting oil shipments through the strategic waterway.
Trump Warns of Potential Terror Threats
President Trump also addressed potential domestic security concerns tied to the escalating conflict.
During remarks Wednesday, the president acknowledged that U.S. intelligence agencies are monitoring potential terrorist “sleeper cells” inside the United States.
“A lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border, but we know where most of them are: We’ve got our eye on all of them, I think,” Trump said.
“They came in through the open-border policies of Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the worst — the worst president in the history of our country — and we’ve got our eyes on all of them,” he added.
Trump also referenced intelligence alerts regarding possible terror threats, including a reported scenario involving a drone attack off the California coast.
“It’s being investigated, but you have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come,” the president said.
At the same time, Trump praised the speed and intensity of the military campaign against Iran.
“But the war itself is being prosecuted at a level that nobody has seen before,” Trump said. “It’s pretty — it’s pretty amazing to watch.”
Hezbollah Escalates Attacks on Israel
Meanwhile, violence surged between Hezbollah and Israel, further widening the conflict.
The Iranian-backed militant group reportedly launched roughly 200 missiles and drones overnight into Israel in what Israeli media described as a coordinated attack involving both Hezbollah and Iran.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched powerful counterstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.
“The IDF is operating with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization following its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime,” the Israeli military said in a statement. “The IDF will not tolerate any harm to Israeli civilians and will forcibly respond against any threat posed to the State of Israel.”
Hezbollah has reportedly dubbed its latest offensive Operation Eaten Straw, claiming the strikes targeted Israeli military sites near Tel Aviv.
Experts Warn of Broader Conflict
According to Matthew Levitt, a Hezbollah expert with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the operation’s name carries symbolic meaning drawn from Islamic scripture.
“The term comes from a Koran verse about destroying one’s enemies to the point that they are destroyed like grains of straw husks. In fact, it is going to lead to a massive Israel response,” Levitt said.
Days before the latest attacks, Joseph Aoun, president of Lebanon, warned that Hezbollah’s actions risk dragging his country into a catastrophic regional war.
Lebanon could become “a second Gaza,” Aoun cautioned.
Security analysts in Israel believe the group may be attempting to deter further Israeli operations.
“I think that Hezbollah is trying to scare Israel from launching further operations, and I truly hope that we will not be afraid, and our government will do what it has to do,” said Sarit Zehavi, a researcher at the Alma Research and Education Center.
With Iran threatening global energy routes, Hezbollah intensifying attacks on Israel, and the United States expanding military operations, the conflict now appears to be entering one of its most dangerous phases.