In a stark ultimatum from the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran on Friday that its naval isolation is intensifying hourly, forcing a choice between a nuclear agreement or devastating economic fallout from unrelenting American pressure.
Hegseth praised ‘Operation Epic Fury’ for achieving battlefield wins in weeks, unlike the endless conflicts that spanned decades without resolution. Addressing the press, he outlined the US Navy’s ironclad blockade from Omani waters to open seas, vowing to repel any non-compliant ships from Iranian ports.
To date, 34 foreign vessels have been cleared to pass, and several have done so. Reinforcements are incoming, including another carrier strike group.
General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, recounted a tense standoff with a defiant container ship. Warnings unheeded led to precision shots at its propulsion system, enabling Marines to secure the vessel and its crew, now detained safely.
Interdictions extend globally, snaring Iranian oil tankers in key maritime zones like the Indo-Pacific. Kane pledged persistence in these efforts.
The secretary described the noose tightening around the Strait of Hormuz, with US permission mandatory for transit. He lambasted Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as maritime bandits preying on trade ships, fueling regional chaos.
Swift action is authorized against mine-laying Iranian craft. Hegseth was blunt: ‘We’ll neutralize those threats immediately.’
Calling on partners, he pressed Europe to contribute more to securing trade routes, given their dependence on Hormuz oil flows. ‘No more freeloading,’ he declared.
While President Trump remains skeptical of deals, doors aren’t slammed if Iran fully abandons its nuclear pursuits under scrutiny.
With Gulf tensions at a boiling point, Kane confirmed US readiness for major operations. As a chokepoint for one-fifth of global oil, Hormuz disruptions threaten worldwide energy stability and economic chains.
