The top U.S. commander in the Middle East briefed President Trump today on potential military options and the ongoing blockade of the Persian Gulf.

While talks to end the war with Iran and ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz both remain at a standstill.

Meantime, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced more grilling from lawmakers as the price of oil is surging and as a key

deadline for congressional wartime authorization is fast approaching. Here's Nick Schiffran with more.

Operation Epic Fury, it's been a smashing military success. We've got to see action a whole lot

sooner in the straits. Today on Capitol Hill, much of the partisan war over the war in Iran focused on the fate of the waterway that both Iran and the U.S. today claim to control. We're not going to bring this war to an end until we seize control of the straits in a way which in part is why we have a blockade that has been impenetrable for the Iranians because they don't have a conventional Navy to contest it,

which means we control the straits.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegesat said a U.S. blockade that has stopped 38 ships

from Iranian docks was pressuring Iran, as echoed today by President Trump.

The blockade is incredible.

The power of the block.

The blockade is incredible.

They're not getting any money from oil.

And hopefully it can be worked out very soon.

But in a message read on state TV, today Iran's new supreme leader, Moujt Bahamene,

said he has no interest in working it out and said Iran had an ongoing chokehold over the straight.

The Islamic Iran and gratitude for the divine blessing of exercising authority over the Strait of Hormuz

will secure the Persian Gulf region and eliminate the ground for exploitation by hostile enemies.

You know, we can try and tell the American people that it's going great and we're killing it,

but until the Strait of Hormuz is open,

I don't think we can credibly say that with any seriousness.

Global markets also do not believe the Strait is open.

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