Officials report dozens of vessels turned back while additional military assets prepare to join operations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Pete Hegseth said Friday that the United States has imposed what he described as an “ironclad blockade” on Iran, with enforcement expanding beyond the immediate region as part of a broader campaign known as Operation Epic Fury.
Speaking during a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said U.S. naval forces are actively turning away vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and increasing operational reach. “As part of that effort, the United States has imposed an ironclad blockade that grows more powerful by the day,” he said. “From the Gulf of Oman to the open oceans, our Navy is enforcing this blockade without hesitation or apology.”
According to Hegseth, 34 vessels had been turned back as of Friday morning. He said all ships meeting U.S. criteria—including Iranian-flagged vessels or those traveling to or from Iranian ports—have been denied passage, while some non-Iranian vessels have been permitted to continue transit.
“Our blockade is growing and going global,” Hegseth said, adding that U.S. forces recently seized two Iranian “dark fleet” vessels in the Indo-Pacific that had departed prior to the blockade’s implementation.
The blockade began on April 13 and has since expanded in both geographic scope and enforcement measures. Hegseth said a second U.S. aircraft carrier is expected to join operations in the coming days to reinforce the effort.
“No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy,” he said. “The blockade is tightening by the hour. We are in control. Nothing in, nothing out.”
Dan Caine confirmed that enforcement applies broadly. “We’re enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality that is transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory,” he said, adding that U.S. forces are tracking vessels both entering and leaving the region and are prepared to intercept them.
Hegseth said the operation is designed to pressure Iran economically and strategically, with the goal of preventing the country from advancing its nuclear capabilities. “Operation Epic Fury has delivered decisive military results in just weeks,” he said. “Clear mission objectives, and ultimately, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”
He also stated that the campaign includes a diplomatic component, noting that Iran still has an opportunity to negotiate. “Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal, a good deal, a wise deal,” Hegseth said. “President Trump said it again yesterday: we have all the time in the world, and we’re not anxious for a deal.”
Hegseth said U.S. forces have been authorized to respond to threats in the region, including any attempts to deploy naval mines. “If Iran is putting mines in the water, or otherwise threatening American commercial shipping or American forces, we will shoot to destroy,” he said.
He also criticized Iran’s military posture, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, describing recent actions involving small boats approaching commercial vessels as irregular tactics.
The blockade has affected shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor. Data cited during the briefing indicated that seven vessels passed through the strait between April 22 and early April 23, with most linked to Iran-related trade.
The disruption has contributed to broader impacts on global energy markets. The strait typically handles about 20 percent of the world’s traded oil and liquefied natural gas. Hundreds of vessels and approximately 20,000 seafarers remain in the Gulf region as insurers and shipping companies monitor conditions for potential stabilization.
Hegseth said the United States is prepared to continue the blockade for as long as necessary. “A blockade as long as it takes,” he said. “The bottom line remains the bottom line – Iran will never get a nuclear bomb.”
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