Hegseth Says US Naval Blockade on Iran Can Be Maintained Indefinitely

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on August 13 that the United States can hold its naval blockade on Iranian ports for as long as necessary, signaling no near-term intention to relent in the standoff with Tehran. The statement comes amid an ongoing broader conflict, with the U.S. blockade operating under Operation Epic Fury for roughly five months. Iran's Supreme National Security Council has responded with sweeping demands for ending the standoff, including the lifting of the blockade, sanctions relief, American troop withdrawals, and war reparations.

Iran's Persian Strait Gulf Authority asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked from their side as well and will not reopen until Tehran's conditions are met, with shipping traffic near three-month lows. The two sides are presenting conflicting accounts of conditions in the strait, and no diplomatic resolution appears imminent.