Topline

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday the U.S. will continue its naval blockade of Iran-linked ships “as long as it takes” to accomplish its objectives in Iran, but insisted the war won’t be “endless”—making a series of vague and contradictory statements about when the operation will conclude as the conflict enters its ninth week.

Hegseth said the U.S. naval blockade is “growing and going global” in a press conference Friday, telling reporters the U.S. has redirected 34 ships since the operation began on April 13.

He said it will continue for “as long as it takes, whatever President Trump decides,” but insisted the conflict wouldn’t be “endless” and the U.S. is “anxious for a deal” with Iran.

Acknowledging Iran has laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz, he said traffic is “much more limited than anybody would like to see.”

Hegseth continued the administration’s criticism of U.S. international allies for refusing to get involved in the war, telling reporters, “Europe and Asia have benefitted from our protection for decades, but the time for free riding is over” and calling discussions between more than 40 countries joining together to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “silly talks.”