Lead

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military blockade of Iran's ports will continue "as long as it takes," and that Washington remains "locked and loaded" to attack Iran's energy facilities, according to multiple reports from Thursday's Pentagon press briefing. The statements come as a fragile pause in fighting, agreed to last week, has so far held.

Coverage comparison

The three sources that covered the briefing—Al Jazeera, The Guardian, and the Jerusalem Post—converge on the core message: Hegseth stressed US military readiness and diplomatic preference, while warning that Iran faces severe consequences if talks fail. Differences emerge in emphasis. The Guardian highlighted Hegseth's combative rhetoric toward the press corps, including a biblical comparison, while Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post focused more squarely on the blockade and military warnings.

Key claims

The blockade, announced by President Donald Trump on Monday, covers all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, as reported by Al Jazeera. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed the blockade has been in force for more than 24 hours, with over 10,000 sailors, marines, and aircrew involved, per The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post. Caine said the US Navy has warned ships to turn around or be boarded, a message executed 13 times so far, according to The Guardian.

Hegseth said Iran's energy infrastructure is "not destroyed yet" and that the US is "reloading with more power than ever before" (The Guardian). He warned Tehran: "You can dig out for now. Can't reconstitute, but we can" (The Guardian). He also declared, "The war department will ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon. Never" (The Guardian).

He explicitly coupled the blockade with potential attacks: "If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power, and energy," as quoted by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. Hegseth delivered a direct message to Iranian leaders: "We are watching you. Your capabilities are not the same as ours. Remember, this is not a fair fight" (Jerusalem Post).

Diplomatic channels and Iranian reactions

Despite the aggressive tone, Hegseth said the US "would prefer to do it the nice way through a deal led by our vice president and negotiating team" (Al Jazeera, Jerusalem Post). He invoked the prospect of a "golden bridge" for Iran's future (Al Jazeera, Jerusalem Post). White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt indicated a positive outlook on future talks, according to Al Jazeera.

A Pakistani delegation arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to coordinate a new round of negotiations, Al Jazeera reported. However, Iranian Major-General Ali Abdollahi warned the blockade could end the current pause in fighting, the same outlet said.

In a related development, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said a ceasefire in Israel's invasion of Lebanon is as important as the pause in fighting with Iran, per Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

  • US Administration: The Pentagon portrays the blockade as a successful pressure tactic, with the military ready to escalate if necessary, but insists diplomacy remains the preferred path.
  • Iranian Military: Officials warn that the blockade threatens the tenuous pause and could derail ongoing negotiation efforts.
  • International Observers: The situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, carries significant implications for global energy security and regional stability.