U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is “ironclad” and warned that President Donald Trump has “all the options he needs on the table” if Iran continues to challenge the blockade.
Axar.az reports, citing CBS News, that Hegseth said Iran does not control the strait and claimed that Tehran had been unable to move anything through it under the U.S. blockade.
“Iran wants to play games with things like the Strait of Hormuz. They don't control it; we do," Hegseth told reporters.
"They have literally gotten nothing through. Our blockade has been ironclad and we're running almost at prewar levels every single night through that; you see that as far as the throughput,” Hegseth added.
He said the U.S. was in a strong position and urged Iran to “make the right choice,” warning that Trump would take further action if necessary.
"So we feel like we're in a very strong position. Iran ought make the right choice. If they don't, the president is going to have all the options he needs on the table. But he is not going to let these things extend unnecessarily. He understands what the mission is and we can get it done when called upon," he said.
He added that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, saying that Trump is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring one.
"The message is very simple: Iran will never ever ever have a nuclear weapon. President Trump is hell-bent and determined to ensure that they do not; they will not," Hegseth continued.