Hegseth reveals how long US can maintain its naval blockade of Iran
Photo: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (Getty Images)
The US military has sufficient resources to maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to Reuters.
US to continue naval blockade of Iran
Hegseth also noted that US ships could be rotated in and out of the region as needed.
He made the remarks in Panama after addressing the crew aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley, which had previously been deployed to the Middle East.
Hegseth’s comments suggest that he is advising US President Donald Trump to continue economic pressure on Iran for as long as necessary, the outlet reported.
The measures are intended to support negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, which have failed.
Trump on the Strait of Hormuz
On August 12, Trump said that the United States controlled the Strait of Hormuz.
"The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we will keep it! Our naval blockade is being called, by everyone, a wall of steel, and there is nothing Iran can do about it," he wrote on Truth Social.
How the blockade began
The United States redirected more than 55 commercial vessels that attempted to break through the blockade. In particular, US forces disabled three ships and boarded two.
Earlier this week, a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged vessel. The ship had ignored warnings from the military.
Iran has been striking back with missiles and drones against US allies in the region. It has also attacked commercial vessels passing through the strait without its permission.
Earlier, Trump said the United States had total control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, meanwhile, said it was the only party controlling the key waterway.
Iran also said that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close to being finalized.
It was also reported that the US war against Iran had already cost the American budget tens of billions of dollars. Eighteen US service members have been killed in the fighting, while hundreds have been wounded.
