US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Thursday issued a fresh warning to Iran, saying Washington is “locked and loaded” to attack Tehran’s energy infrastructure while asserting that the blockade of Iranian ports will continue.
“We are reloading with more power than ever before…even more importantly, better intelligence than ever before,” Hegseth said.
He further added, “As you (Iran) 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.
Hegseth said that Iran can “choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do so for the people of Iran.”
The Pentagon chief asserted that the US will maintain its blockade for “as long as it takes”, adding that Tehran would have both – a blockade and US bombs dropping on its infrastructure – if it chooses poorly.
“In the meantime and for as long as it takes, we will maintain this blockade, a successful blockade, but if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy,” he said.
His remarks came shortly after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s military adviser, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that Iranian launchers are locked on US warships in the Strait of Hormuz and they all will be sunk if the Islamic Republic is threatened directly.
According to Iran’s state media Press TV, Rezaei said, “Pressure must increase. Our launchers are now locked on the warships, and we will sink them all.”
Referring to US blockade of Iranian ports, Rezaei asserted that the move would fail and that Iran could counter such actions.
“Just as the United States suffered a historic defeat in trying to open the Strait of Hormuz, it is also doomed to fail in the naval blockade,” he said in a televised address, according to Press TV.
The warnings from the US and Iran to each other came against the backdrop of increased diplomatic efforts to seek a permanent end to the US-Iran war.
Earlier on Wednesday, a delegation from Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator in talks between the US and Iran to end the war, arrived in Tehran to plan another round of meetings.
According to Iranian state media, the delegation has arrived to convey a message from the United States and discuss the second round of meetings after the first round of talks in Islamabad last week ended in a stalemate.