U.S. forces in the Middle East are postured to restart combat operations if Iran doesn’t agree to a peace deal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing on Thursday.
“You Iran, can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do for the people of Iran,” he said. “But if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy.”
Hegseth, addressing the Iranian leadership, said “this is not a fair fight, and we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to.” He added that Iran’s Supreme Leader is believed to be wounded and alive.
As part of a campaign to pressure Tehran to agree to a deal, U.S. military forces are mounting a blockade on all ships seeking to enter or leave Iran.
“(We) will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” said General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General Dan Caine added U.S. forces were “ready to resume major combat operations at literally a moment’s notice.”
U.S. Navy ships would pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran, he told the briefing.
Ships trying to break the blockade would be intercepted and warned that “If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force”. Enforcement would occur inside Iran’s territorial seas and in international waters, he told the briefing.
A total of 13 ships have chosen to turn around rather than break the blockade, Caine said, adding that no ships had been boarded so far. Reuters
