WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remained “ironclad”, warning Iran against “playing games” with the strategically important waterway.
Hegseth told reporters that Iran did not control the strait and claimed US forces had prevented Tehran from moving goods through it. “Iran wants to play games with things like the Strait of Hormuz. They don’t control it; we do,” Hegseth said.
“They have literally gotten nothing through. Our blockade has been ironclad, and we’re running almost at pre-war levels every single night through that; you see that as far as the throughput,” he added.
Hegseth on Iran:
Iran wants to play games with things like the Strait of Hormuz. They don’t control it. We do. https://t.co/AWumlsRvAB
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 3, 2026
Hegseth urged Tehran to “make the right choice”, warning that US President Donald Trump had further options if Iran refused to comply. “We feel like we’re in a very strong position. Iran ought to make the right choice. If they don’t, the president is going to have all the options he needs on the table,” Hegseth said.
READ ALSO: US ‘More Than Capable’ of Resuming War With Iran: Hegseth
He added that Trump would not allow the situation to continue unnecessarily, saying the US administration understood its mission and could complete it when called upon.
Hegseth also reiterated Trump’s determination to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, describing the issue as a vital US national interest.
“The message is very simple: Iran will never ever ever have a nuclear weapon. President Trump is hell-bent and determined to ensure that they do not; they will not,” Hegseth said.
