The U.S. naval blockade of Iran is just an example of “polite” behavior throughout the ongoing ceasefire and U.S. forces are able to strike Iran’s power plants and energy industry if ordered, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday.
Standing alongside two of the U.S. military’s most senior officers, Hegseth said Iran needs to decide on properly because it prepares for negotiations with the US.
“We’re reloading with more power than ever before, and higher intelligence,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon news briefing. “We’re locked and loaded in your critical dual-use infrastructure, in your remaining power generation, and in your energy industry. We’d somewhat not must do it.”
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration expressed optimism on Wednesday about reaching a deal to finish the Iran war, while also warning of accelerating economic pressure against Iran if it stays defiant.
That has included a blockade of Iran that went into effect on Monday, with the U.S. military forcing 14 ships to show around. Dozens of U.S. warships and aircraft, including about 10,000 military personnel, are enforcing the blockade.
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Trump is hoping the hassle will force Iran to just accept U.S. terms for ending the war, which was launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, including opening up the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which roughly one fifth of world oil and gas exports ordinarily transits. Trump has said that was also a condition of the ceasefire resulting from expire next week.
The war has resulted within the largest-ever disruption of world oil and gas supplies.
Analysts have said that Iran can withstand an entire halt in oil exports of as much as two months before being forced to curb production.
Hegseth, in comments aimed toward the Iranian leadership, said that the blockade “is the polite way that this may go.”
Able to resume operations
Admiral Brad Cooper, the top of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations within the Middle East, said the military was adjusting tactics, techniques and procedures, but he didn’t provide any details.
Throughout the same briefing, General Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that American forces are “able to resume major combat operations at literally a moment’s notice.”
U.S. Navy ships would pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to supply material support to Iran, Caine told the briefing. He added that would happen not only within the region, but additionally the Indo-Pacific.
Ships attempting to break the blockade can be intercepted and warned that “should you don’t comply with this blockade, we are going to use force,” and enforcement would occur inside Iran’s territorial seas and in international waters, Caine said.
No ships have been boarded to date, Caine said.
The U.S. military has widened its blockade to incorporate cargoes deemed contraband, and any vessels suspected of trying to achieve Iranian territory can be “subject to belligerent right to go to and search,” the U.S. Navy said in an advisory on Thursday.
“These vessels, no matter location, are subject to go to, board, search, and seizure,” the Navy said in an updated advisory.
Contraband items listed included weapons, weapons systems, ammunition, nuclear materials, crude and refined oil products in addition to iron, steel and aluminum.
Sources briefed by Tehran have told Reuters that Iran could let ships sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack under proposals it has offered in talks with the U.S., providing a deal is clinched to forestall renewed conflict.