US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Thursday (April 16) again threatened Iran with consequences if they do not agree to a peace deal. Hegseth warned that the US is "locked and loaded" and prepared to strike Iran's energy infrastructure.
"If Iran chooses poorly, they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy," Hegseth said.
"Message to Iran is we are watching you. We know what military assets you are moving out," Hegseth further said and added, "we are reloading with more power than before.
He also warned that the US will continue to maintain the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz "as long as it wants", if Iran does not "chooses wisely" on whether to accept a peace deal.
"Iran likes to say it controls Strait of Hormuz but it has no navy. Threatening to shoot at commercial ships is not control, it's piracy," said Hegseth on Hormuz.
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According to General Dan Caine, enforcement will occur in Iran's territorial seas and in international waters. He also said that US will pursue any vessel attempting to provide support to Iran.
"We are reloading with more power than ever before and better intelligence, even more importantly, better intelligence than ever before," he warned Iran.
"As you expose yourself with your movement to our watchful eye, we are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation and on your energy industry. We'd rather not have to do it, but we're ready to go at the command of our president and at the push of a button," he further added.

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