Arabic version: ستستمر الحصار العسكري الأمريكي على موانئ إيران، يؤكد هيغسث

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the military blockade of Iran’s ports will continue “as long as it takes”. He stated that Washington remains “locked and loaded” to attack Iran’s energy facilities if necessary. Hegseth’s comments came during a press briefing at the Pentagon, where he addressed the ongoing tensions following a fragile pause in fighting.

According to Al Jazeera, the blockade was announced by President Donald Trump after failed US-Iran talks in Pakistan. Hegseth emphasized that the US military is closely monitoring Iran’s military movements during this pause, which is expected to last through early next week.

Hegseth expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions to the conflict, which escalated after US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. He urged Iran to pursue a prosperous future instead of continued hostilities, while warning that failure to do so could result in military action against Iran’s critical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani delegation has arrived in Tehran to facilitate a new round of negotiations. While both sides are open to further talks, mistrust remains a significant barrier, as highlighted by Iranian officials. Reports indicate that the US blockade could jeopardize the current pause in fighting if not resolved.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported that 13 ships have turned back from Iranian ports in response to US warnings. He reiterated that force would be used against those who do not comply with the blockade. Additionally, Hegseth dismissed reports of Chinese arms shipments to Iran, asserting that the US has received assurances from Beijing to the contrary.