Dispute Over Strait of Hormuz Planning

A recent CNN report alleged that the Pentagon and the National Security Council did not plan for Iran's potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a claim reportedly acknowledged by top Trump officials to lawmakers in a classified briefing.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt countered this, stating that the military has planned for this contingency for decades, emphasizing that Operation Epic Fury is designed to neutralize Iran’s naval, missile, drone, and launch capabilities to mitigate threats to global shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz.

Administration Rebuts Planning Claims

Leavitt's statement directly contradicted the CNN report, underscoring the long-standing nature of U.S. military contingency planning for potential disruptions in critical waterways. She highlighted that Operation Epic Fury specifically targets Iran's capabilities to ensure the security of global shipping.

Congressional Leaders Dismiss Report

Following the CNN report, several lawmakers who received classified briefings swiftly disputed its accuracy.

Senator Tom Cotton, Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, strongly refuted the report, stating, "whoever leaked this lied". He reiterated that the U.S. has robustly planned for Iran's attempts to close the Strait for decades.

Similarly, Senator Tim Sheehy, after receiving a classified briefing from the administration, declared it "categorically false" that officials did not plan for Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz. Sheehy further emphasized that lawmakers and national security officials have been aware of this possibility for years, indicating ongoing preparedness.

Operation Epic Fury: Key Objectives

Operation Epic Fury is described as advancing several critical objectives aimed at neutralizing Iranian threats:

• Destroying Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and production capacity.
• Neutralizing its navy.
• Severing its support for proxy groups.
• Preventing the regime from developing nuclear weapons.