**Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, has declared that the military blockade of Iranian ports will persist indefinitely, emphasizing Washington’s readiness to launch attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure.**
His remarks on Thursday coincided with the continuation of a fragile ceasefire established last week. Earlier, on Monday, President Donald Trump had announced the imposition of a military blockade on Iran’s ports in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf, following the collapse of US-Iran negotiations in Pakistan.
The defense secretary adopted an assertive stance, stating that the U.S. is closely monitoring Iran’s military activities during the ongoing pause in hostilities, which is slated to continue until early next week. Hegseth asserted, **”We are rearming with unprecedented power and, crucially, with superior intelligence.”** He further warned, “As your movements become visible to our vigilant surveillance, we are prepared to target your critical dual-use infrastructure, remaining power generation capabilities, and your energy industry.”
Despite the strong rhetoric, the Pentagon chief reiterated that the U.S. prefers a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, which originated with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. “Iran has the opportunity to choose a prosperous future, a ‘golden bridge,’ and we hope they do so for their people,” he stated. “Meanwhile, and for the necessary duration, we will uphold this effective blockade. However, if Iran makes an unfavorable choice, they will face both the blockade and aerial strikes on their infrastructure, power, and energy sectors.”
Concurrently, a Pakistani delegation arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to facilitate another round of discussions. While both parties have expressed openness to continued negotiations, Major-General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, cautioned that the U.S. blockade could jeopardize the ongoing ceasefire. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, however, conveyed a positive outlook from the U.S. side regarding future talks. She affirmed, “At this moment, we remain deeply engaged in these negotiations and discussions.”
Nevertheless, reports from Tehran by Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem on Thursday indicate persistent deep-seated distrust. Previous U.S. attacks on Iran under the Trump administration, occurring during indirect talks on Iran’s nuclear program, have significantly overshadowed recent diplomatic efforts. Hashem noted, “While several messages have been conveyed to the Iranians, instead of fostering trust and optimism, the sentiment appears to be already unsettled.” He added, “A platform closely linked to the foreign ministry today tweeted, citing a source who suggested that any media portrayal of optimism is merely hype, serving as public relations and a tool for President Trump in the markets.”
Separately, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s speaker of parliament and head of the Iranian delegation in the talks, informed his Lebanese counterpart on Thursday that a ceasefire in Israel’s invasion and bombardment of Lebanon holds “equal importance” to the ongoing pause in fighting in Iran. **Securing Israel’s agreement to a Lebanon ceasefire has emerged as a primary sticking point in the broader negotiations, which also encompass the control of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Iran’s nuclear program.**
“We Will Use Force”
During Thursday’s news conference, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported that 13 vessels departing Iranian ports have turned back following U.S. military warnings. Caine explicitly stated, “Non-compliance with this blockade will be met with the use of force.”
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), noted that the U.S. is utilizing the current situation to rearm and reposition its forces. “We are rearming, retooling, and refining our tactics, techniques, and procedures,” Cooper explained. “No military adapts as we do, and that is precisely what we are accomplishing during this ceasefire.”
Responding to reporters’ questions, Hegseth dismissed reports of China planning to supply weapons to Iran during the ceasefire, stating that Washington had received assurances from Beijing to the contrary. Hegseth also dedicated a significant portion of the press conference to criticizing U.S. media coverage of the conflict, particularly its scrutiny of the Trump administration’s evolving objectives and justifications for initiating hostilities. He labeled such coverage as “incredibly unpatriotic.”
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