US Defence Secretary Pete
Hegseth told reporters on Thursday that the US military has the capability to
maintain a naval presence in the region for as long as necessary to enforce the
blockade.
Speaking during a visit to
Panama, Hegseth said the blockade had already caused significant damage to
Iran’s economy.
“The US Navy can continue
this type of blockade indefinitely because we are regularly stopping ships and
will continue to do so in the future,” he said.
US Treasury Secretary Scott
Bessent also indicated that Washington is preparing additional economic
measures against Iran.
In an interview with
Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight”, Bessent said further announcements would be
made next week.
“Watch for it, because we are
going to put economic pressure on Iran that has never been put on any country
before,” he said.
Iran, meanwhile, has been
seeking to increase pressure on the United States by maintaining control over
the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Before the conflict began,
nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed
through the waterway.
Iran has already attacked
several vessels attempting to navigate the strait.
On Thursday evening, two
vessels owned by the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil
Company came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE’s
state news agency WAM reported.
The UAE government condemned
the incident and blamed Iran for the attack.
US President Donald Trump is
also facing growing domestic pressure to end the war.
The conflict has become
increasingly unpopular in the United States, while rising fuel prices are
affecting Trump’s approval ratings.
The situation could also make
it more difficult for his party to retain control of Congress in the midterm
elections scheduled for November.
Source: Reuters
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Published Date : August 14, 2026
