The US military has enough assets to maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday. Hegseth’s comments suggest he is advising US President Donald Trump that the US military can keep applying economic pressure on Iran for as long as needed to help so-far failed negotiations to end the conflict, begun in February.
US Naval Blockade
Hegseth told reporters that the US Navy can maintain a blockade like that because ships can be rotated in and out of the region as needed. The US subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian shipping and ports, while saying it would protect freedom of navigation for vessels traveling to and from non-Iranian ports.
Washington has poured tens of thousands of troops into the Middle East since the war started, including more than 20 warships. Since the blockade started, the US military has redirected more than 55 commercial vessels that were attempting to run the blockade, including disabling three ships and boarding two.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
