On the 24th, US Secretary of War Hegseth stated that the US Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports, which began on the 13th, will continue as needed.
At a press conference held at the Pentagon with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kane, he said that so far 34 ships have been ordered to turn back by the US Navy. In a few days, another aircraft carrier will join the blockade operation.
He pointed out that US forces have detained two ships from Iran’s shadow fleet in the Indian Ocean, and this expanding blockade is becoming global.
Hegseth warned Iran not to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that if this happens, the US military will not hesitate to open fire and destroy them, just as they have dealt with drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.
He said this should not be just America’s fight alone—the era of Europe and Asia riding for free has ended.
At the press conference, Kane provided details on the US seizure of the Iranian cargo ship “Tuska” and two Iranian-linked oil tankers in the Indian Ocean. These three ships and their crews are still under US control, and the US military will continue similar maritime interception operations against Iranian vessels in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.