The US secretary of the Navy has resigned from his position amid Donald Trump’s ongoing war with Iran, centered around the Strait of Hormuz.
John C. Phelan stepped down from his high-ranking military role on Wednesday afternoon as Trump’s battle with Tehran over the critical trading waterway continues.
Just two days ago, the US Navy attacked and seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Strait that was attempting to pass through Trump’s blockade.
Trump and the Navy’s presence in the Strait have increased in recent days in a bid to bolster pressure on Iran and restrict the country’s ability to profit from oil exports.
The Strait of Hormuz usually sees over 3,000 ships sail through – connecting the world via its trade route – but during the ongoing US-Iran conflict, this number has decreased to just a handful a day.
Phelan’s departure from the chief Navy position is just the latest in a series of resignations plaguing the Trump administration at a critical time for the president.
A spokesperson for Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of War, said: ‘Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately.
‘On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.
‘We wish him well in his future endeavors. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy.’
This is a breaking news story.
John C. Phelan, the head of the US Navy, stepped down from his role on Wednesday afternoon
Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026
