Iran has a chance to make a deal, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said, as Washington warned Tehran over mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz and kept up pressure through its naval presence.
In a packed press conference at the Pentagon on Friday, he said Tehran has “a chance to make a good deal” and added, “Iran has open window to choose wisely at negotiating table.”
“The choice is theirs. But with this (US naval) blockade, the clock is not on their side.”
The naval blockade of Iranian ports throughout the Strait of Hormuz will last “as long as it takes,” Hegseth added.
The Pentagon chief warned that any attempt to lay mines in the Strait would breach the ceasefire framework.
“If there are attempts to recklessly and irresponsibly lay more mines, we're going to deal with that. It's a violation of the ceasefire,” he told reporters.
He said US forces were prepared to respond directly if Iranian vessels threatened shipping.
“Our commanders have clear rules of engagement. If Iran is putting mines in the water or otherwise threatening American commercial shipping or American forces, we will shoot to destroy,” he said.
Hegseth added that US operations in the region were expanding.
“Our blockade is growing and going global. America's military is unmatched, projecting power, denying passage to adversaries, and protecting our interests at the time and place of our choosing,” he said.
Dismissing a meeting of world leaders this week to discuss efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Pentagon chief called it a “silly conference … where they got together and talked about — talking about maybe doing something eventually.”
"We're not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do and might want to start doing less talking, and having less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat,” Hegseth said. “This is much more their fight than ours.”
Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said Iran had attacked five ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two, as tensions over maritime security deepened.
The US said an additional aircraft carrier would soon join the deployment, as it broadened its naval posture in the region.
Iran maintained that the US blockade itself violated the ceasefire extended by Trump, and said it would not return to talks unless the restrictions were lifted.
