US says Iran naval blockade can continue indefinitely as ceasefire talks falter
The United States said it could sustain its naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and plans further economic measures as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensify.
Panama City, Panama. The United States said it could maintain its naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and increase economic pressure on Tehran as ceasefire talks have stalled, oil supplies decline and regional tensions rise.
Naval presence and economic measures
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military could sustain a regional naval presence to enforce the blockade, which he said had caused severe economic damage to Iran.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Panama, Hegseth said the US Navy could continue the operation by rotating ships in and out of the region.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Washington planned further financial measures against Iran. In an interview with Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight”, he said additional announcements would be made next week and described the planned measures as unprecedented economic isolation.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
A tentative agreement to end the war in June has collapsed, while Iran has sought leverage over Washington by controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has attacked some vessels attempting to cross the strategic waterway, which carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the war began in February.
Two vessels belonging to the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked while transiting the strait on Thursday evening, according to the UAE state news agency WAM. The United Arab Emirates government condemned the incident as an Iranian attack.
Political pressure
US President Donald Trump faces domestic pressure to end the deeply unpopular war, as higher fuel prices have affected his approval ratings and could undermine his party’s control of Congress in the November midterm elections.
Trump has repeatedly said the United States has “total control” of the strait, a claim Iran has denied. Tehran has said it will not allow the waterway to reopen until its conditions are met, including the removal of economic sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
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