Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth states the US blockade on Iran is expanding globally, offering Tehran a chance for a "good deal". Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

"No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said of the blockade.

"No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said of the blockade.

April 24 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a press briefing Friday that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has gone global after seizing two vessels in the Indo-Pacific region this week.

The US-Iran stand-off over the key waterway has deepened uncertainty over talks in Islamabad as Tehran insists the blockade must be lifted.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury has achieved a decisive result in just weeks, focused on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He noted the mission is entering a new phase, giving Iran the chance to pursue a “good and wise” peace deal, while emphasising the strength of the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, soon to be reinforced by a second aircraft carrier. France24 journalist Shirli Sitbon shares further details on the press conference.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed recent British- and French-led conferences to discuss options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz as more examples of Europe talking rather than taking action.

The Defense Secretary of the United States of America has just issued a bold statement about the war in Iran, as well as bashed all those countries and allies who are ‘free loading’ off...