The White House has criticized CNN for allegedly spreading misinformation regarding US preparations for a potential Iranian action to close the Strait of Hormuz. Officials strongly refuted a report suggesting that American authorities had not readied for such a scenario amid the ongoing military operations against Tehran. The White House clarified that the US military had indeed included plans for Iran’s potential closure of the vital shipping route as part of Operation Epic Fury.
The White House denounced CNN’s assertions, stating that the network was circulating unfounded claims sourced from Democrats to undermine the successes of Operation Epic Fury. According to the White House, CNN’s allegations that the Pentagon and the National Security Council had not accounted for Iran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz were inaccurate. The White House emphasized that US military strategies had long encompassed scenarios involving Iran’s interference with the strait.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the military had prepared for such contingencies for many years, countering CNN’s narrative. Operation Epic Fury, as outlined by the White House, aimed to neutralize Iran’s capacity to disrupt maritime passages. Lawmakers who had attended classified briefings also contradicted the claims made in the report, with Senator Tom Cotton asserting that the US had long considered Iran’s potential actions in closing the strait.
Senator Tim Sheehy, another attendee of the briefing, echoed Cotton’s sentiments, affirming that the administration had indeed strategized for Iran’s actions in the region. The White House reaffirmed that Operation Epic Fury remained focused on its objectives to counter Iran’s military capabilities, including dismantling its naval assets and missile capabilities. The operation, under President Trump’s leadership, aimed to eliminate Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, cripple its navy, sever its support for terrorist groups, and prevent any nuclear threats to global security.
