PENTAGON, Washington — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a blunt ultimatum to the Iranian leadership on Thursday, warning that the United States is ready to shift from its current naval blockade to a full-scale "bombing of infrastructure" if diplomatic demands are not met.
Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Hegseth described the ongoing maritime blockade as the "polite" phase of U.S. strategy, but warned that major combat operations could resume at a "moment’s notice."
"Choose Wisely": The Infrastructure Ultimatum
The Defense Secretary’s comments mark a significant escalation in rhetoric since the U.S.-led blockade began on April 13. Hegseth explicitly warned that the U.S. military has mapped out critical Iranian targets, including:
Energy Industry: Remaining power plants and oil refineries.
Dual-Use Infrastructure: Facilities that support both civilian and military operations.
Economic Choke Points: Further tightening of the "belligerent right to visit and search" for all vessels in the region.
"We are reloading with more power than ever before, and better intelligence," Hegseth said.
"If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure. We’d rather not have to do it."
A Total Maritime Exclusion Zone
General Dan Caine confirmed that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is enforcing the blockade "impartially" against all vessels, regardless of nationality.
Latest Blockade Facts:
Full Implementation: No commercial vessels have successfully breached the exclusion zone since Monday.
Contraband List: The U.S. Navy has expanded the list of prohibited items to include steel, aluminum, iron, and all refined oil products.
Enforcement Reach: U.S. forces are tracking and intercepting suspect ships across international waters and within Iran’s territorial seas.
Stalled Diplomacy and Expiring Waivers
The military buildup follows the collapse of the Islamabad Talks on April 12, which failed to produce a lasting agreement to end the two-month-old conflict.
While a fragile two-week ceasefire remains technically in place, the U.S. has made it clear that "quarantine" measures will escalate to active strikes if Tehran attempts to bypass the blockade or refuses to dismantle its remaining ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities.
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https://thereporter24.com/news/u-s-issues-combat-restart-ultimatum-to-iran-as-blockade-tensions-mount
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