U.S. Defense Secretary Says Iran Naval Blockade Is Going Global, 34 Ships Turned Back

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that the US blockade on Iran is expanding globally, while saying Tehran still has a chance to make what he called a “good deal” with Washington.

Speaking to reporters alongside top US General Dan Caine, Hegseth said the blockade was growing and going global.

He also said no one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy.

The comments came as three Pakistani sources told Reuters that peace talks between Iran and the United States could resume soon in Pakistan, after an earlier round of talks expected this week did not take place.

Hegseth said the United States was not anxious for a deal and repeated President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks that Washington had “all the time in the world.”

He said Iran still had an open window to choose diplomacy and could do so by abandoning a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways.

General Caine said US Central Command was continuing a strict blockade on all Iranian ports. He said 34 ships had been turned around as of Friday morning.

He added that the US military would continue to interdict Iranian vessels in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Caine said the blockade was being enforced against any ship of any nationality transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory.

He also said US forces were closely tracking vessels heading towards Iran, as well as ships moving away from Iran that were outside the blockade area when the order was issued, and were prepared to intercept them.

The US naval blockade on Iran began on April 13.

Hegseth also warned that any attempt by Iran to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz would violate the ceasefire.

He said transit through the Strait of Hormuz was continuing, though much more limited and carrying greater risk than many would like to see. He blamed that on what he described as irresponsible Iranian actions involving small fast boats carrying weapons.

References: Reuters, telegraphindia