Hegseth says US can maintain Iran blockade ‘indefinitely’ as Strait of Hormuz standoff deepens

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Thursday that the United States possesses sufficient military assets to maintain its naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, signaling Washington's determination to continue pressuring Tehran as diplomatic efforts remain inconclusive. The US Navy can keep ships in the region as long as required by rotating vessels in and out, according to Hegseth, who made the remarks in Panama after speaking with the crew of the USS Gridley, a guided-missile destroyer previously deployed to the Middle East.

Since the war began, the US has stationed tens of thousands of troops in the Middle East, including over 20 warships, according to a report. President Trump claimed on the same day that the US had gained control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route, describing the US naval blockade as a "WALL OF STEEL."

Since imposing the blockade, US forces have redirected more than 55 commercial vessels attempting to breach it, disabling three ships and boarding two. A US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged vessel that allegedly ignored US warnings. The US asserts its blockade targets Iranian shipping and ports while allowing freedom of navigation for vessels traveling to and from non-Iranian ports.

Despite weeks of US military strikes, Iran has retained control over the Strait of Hormuz, retaliating with missile and drone attacks against US allies and targeting commercial vessels without permission. The ongoing confrontation has kept the strategically important waterway at the heart of the conflict, threatening to disrupt global energy supplies.

President Trump has oscillated between escalation threats and claims of nearing a peace deal, facing pressure to end the war before the November midterm elections amid rising fuel prices, particularly in rural areas that traditionally back Trump.