US Secretary of War (Defense Secretary) Haggsess stated in Panama on the 13th that the US military has sufficient forces and can impose a maritime blockade on Iran “indefinitely,” and can rotate ships as needed to maintain pressure.
On the same day, after addressing the crew of the destroyer USS Gridley in Panama, Haggsess told the media, “The US Navy is fully capable of maintaining this blockade indefinitely, because, as in the past, we will continue to rotate vessels.”
On July 14, the US military announced the resumption of maritime blockades targeting ships traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. On the 12th of this month, US Central Command said that as of that day, the US military had forced 59 commercial vessels to change course, rendered 3 commercial ships unable to navigate, and boarded and inspected two commercial vessels.
US Treasury Secretary: Will Use Unprecedented Means to Economically Isolate Iran
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Bassent threatened on the 13th to impose “unprecedented” economic isolation on Iran, expected to deploy multiple strategies, combining financial pressure with physical port blockades.
In an interview with Television Network’s News Headlines, Bassent said: “This will be a multi-pronged, unprecedented economic isolation in the world,” and stated that the “ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz...nothing will be able to enter or exit Iranian ports.”
He said: “Please stay tuned, more announcements will come next week.”
US President Trump posted on social media on the 12th stating, “The United States has full control of the Strait of Hormuz...Iran is helpless in this regard.”