United States Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has said the military blockade of Iran’s ports will continue “as long as it takes”, saying Washington remained “locked and loaded” to attack Iran’s energy facilities.Hegseth spoke on Thursday as a tenuous pause in fighting agreed to last week has continued. On Monday, President Donald Trump had announced the military would blockade Iran’s ports in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf after US-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to reach a breakthrough.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe defence secretary struck an aggressive tone as he maintained the US was monitoring Iran’s military movements during the pause in fighting, which currently is meant to extend through early next week.“We are reloading with more power than ever before … even more importantly, better intelligence than ever before,” Hegseth said.“As you expose yourself with your movement to our watchful eye, we are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation and on your energy industry,” he said.Still, the Pentagon chief said the US would prefer to resolve the conflict, which began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, through diplomacy.“You, Iran, can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do for the people of Iran,” he said. “In the meantime and for as long as it takes, we will maintain this blockade, successful blockade, but if Ir …
