US Navy Secretary John Phelan has been dismissed, marking the latest high-level personnel change in the American military as the war with Iran enters its eighth week. The Pentagon announced his immediate departure.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell thanked Phelan for his service and wished him well, but no official reason was given. Reports suggest internal disputes, particularly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, played a role.

The firing comes at a critical time: US naval forces are enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports and maintaining a heavy presence in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments.

Phelan, a businessman and major Republican donor with no prior military experience, was appointed in 2024 as a political ally of President Donald Trump. His tenure was reportedly marred by slow shipbuilding reforms and strained relations with Pentagon leadership, as well as an ethics investigation.

Democrats criticized the dismissal as "troubling," with Senator Jack Reed calling it another example of instability and dysfunction in the Defense Department under Trump and Hegseth.

Phelan's removal is part of a broader pattern of firings and restructuring during the Iran war. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George was dismissed in April, along with other senior officers.

The situation has escalated in recent days: US forces seized an Iranian container ship, which Tehran labeled "piracy." Iran retaliated by capturing two cargo ships and firing on another, raising tensions further.

Source: www.aljazeera.com