Speaking at the Pentagon alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine on Thursday (16 April), US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned Iran that US forces remain “locked and loaded” on key dual-use infrastructure, including energy and power systems, while urging Tehran to choose a diplomatic path amid ongoing efforts led by Pakistan.
Hegseth said Washington is “watching” Iran and monitoring its military movements, stressing that any confrontation would be “not a fair fight” given US capabilities and intelligence.
Addressing maritime tensions, he rejected Iran’s claims over the Strait of Hormuz, stating threats against commercial shipping amount to “piracy” and “terrorism”. He added that the US Navy controls regional traffic and is sustaining a blockade with “less than 10%” of its naval capacity.
Caine outlined the operational scope of the US-led effort, stating it is “a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz”. He said it applies to “all ships regardless of nationality” travelling to or from Iranian ports, with enforcement in both territorial and international waters.
He added that US and allied forces will “actively pursue” Iranian-flagged vessels and ships providing material support, including so-called “dark fleet” tankers used to bypass sanctions. More than 10,000 personnel, alongside over a dozen ships and dozens of aircraft, are engaged in the operation.
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