U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the United States has the military resources to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports for as long as necessary, as Washington and Tehran continue to clash over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States Navy can sustain the blockade indefinitely,” Hegseth told reporters on August 13 after addressing the crew of the USS Gridley during the multinational PANAMAX 2026 military exercises in Panama.
Hegseth said the United States could maintain the operation by rotating warships in and out of the region and continuing to deploy additional forces as needed.
“We are able to replace ships coming in and out” of the area, Hegseth said, emphasizing the U.S. military’s ability to sustain the operation over an extended period.
The comments came amid an escalating dispute between Washington and Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
Before the U.S.-Iran war began in late February, roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies passed through the strait, making the security of the waterway critical to international energy markets.
President Donald Trump has insisted that the United States has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian military officials have rejected the claim, maintaining that Tehran continues to control the waterway and manage maritime traffic through the strait.
The USS Gridley had previously been deployed to the Middle East as part of the U.S. military presence in the region.
Hegseth’s remarks signal that Washington is prepared for a prolonged maritime confrontation with Iran, potentially placing further pressure on Tehran while raising concerns over the impact of the standoff on global energy supplies and shipping.
