U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the United States has enough military assets to maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely, signaling that Washington is prepared to sustain pressure on Tehran for as long as necessary.
Speaking to reporters after addressing the crew of the USS Gridley, a guided-missile destroyer, Hegseth said the U.S. Navy could sustain the operation by rotating warships in and out of the region.
“Indefinitely the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that,” Hegseth said, adding that ships would continue to be rotated as needed.
The comments come as efforts to reach an agreement to end the conflict remain stalled and Washington continues to use economic and military pressure against Tehran.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States has “total control” of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and indicated that Washington intends to maintain its naval blockade.
The blockade is focused on shipping to and from Iranian ports, while the United States has said it intends to preserve freedom of navigation for vessels traveling to and from non-Iranian ports. According to Reuters, U.S. forces have already redirected dozens of commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, while several vessels have been disabled or boarded.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy corridor, and disruptions to shipping through the waterway have heightened concerns over oil and gas supplies and contributed to volatility in global energy markets.
Hegseth’s remarks indicate that Washington is prepared for a prolonged maritime standoff with Iran, rather than treating the blockade as a short-term measure.
