U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant [AP=Yonhap News Archive Photo] 

Scott Bessant, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, urged allies and China to join and support efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz on the 4th (local time), the same day the U.S. military launched a "Liberation Project" to free ships detained by Iran's blockade of the strait.

In an interview with Fox News on the same day, Secretary Bessant stated, "We have complete control over the strait."

He emphasized, "We are demanding that Iran release these vessels for the benefit of the international community, and we expect our international partners to engage in the same way. Now is the opportune time for our international partners to step up and pressure Iran."

Secretary Bessant also said, "The United States is only returning fire when attacked. We are not the aggressors. However, if Iran seeks to escalate the situation further, we are prepared to respond."

He also expressed the view that China should persuade Iran to open the strait, with a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping just over a week away.

Secretary Bessant urged, "We call on China to join us in supporting this international operation. We will see if China will exert diplomatic efforts to get Iran to open the strait."

He pointed out, "Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been purchasing 90% of Iran's energy, effectively funding the leading state sponsor of terrorism."

Regarding rising oil prices, Secretary Bessant said, "We are well aware that short-term price spikes are affecting the American people, but prices will come down very quickly once the war is over."