U.S. Hegseth Warns Iran Over Deal
Speaking at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Hegseth left little ambiguity about Washington's posture.
"The blockade is very much still in place," he said.
The Pentagon chief outlined the conditions under which the strategic waterway would be reopened to international shipping.
"Once a deal is had or not, depending on the choice they make, it will be an open strait, a toll-free strait that the entire world can use, which is the way that it should be," Hegseth said.
He reinforced that US forces remain on standby for potential re-engagement, while expressing measured confidence in ongoing diplomatic channels.
"Right now, we're focused on being postured and prepared to reengage if we have to," the Pentagon chief added, but said he is "confident" that the US will get a deal that serves the interests of the American people.
Directly countering Tehran's claim of dominance over the waterway, Hegseth was unequivocal.
"They want to say that they control the strait, but we do, and everything behind the scenes shows that we are in control when it comes to that, including how the dynamics of the negotiation are coming together," he said.
On the nuclear talks, Hegseth reaffirmed that President Donald Trump's red line remains absolute — any final agreement must permanently bar Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
"We think we're in a good place to make that deal," Hegseth said, adding: "Or they can deal with the War Department. And we are prepared. We're postured even stronger today than we were on day one to address it that way if we have to."
The standoff stems from a dramatic escalation that began when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Tehran responded with retaliatory attacks on Israel and US Gulf allies, and shuttered the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took hold on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, later extended indefinitely by Trump.
With Islamabad-brokered negotiations having stalled, Washington imposed its port blockade on April 13, encompassing key Iranian terminals along the strait. International mediation efforts to broker a lasting resolution remain ongoing.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
