WASHINGTON — The US military will “actively pursue” any Iranian-flagged vessels or any ships attempting to support the regime elsewhere in the world, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced Thursday — in an expansion of the blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
Caine explained that in addition to cutting off the regime’s ports in the critical oil chokepoint, other US military assets will look out for and stop vessels elsewhere, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific Area of Responsibility under the command of Admiral [Samuel] Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Caine said at a press conference on Thursday.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth held a briefing at the Pentagon on the Iran war. Getty Images
“This includes Dark Fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. As most of you know, Dark Fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also warned Iranian leaders to “choose wisely” on whether to accept a deal with the US.
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“To Iran: Choose wisely. I pray you choose a deal which is in your grasp for the betterment of your people and for the betterment of the world,” Hegseth said at the press conference. “In the meantime, the War Department is locked and loaded.”
President Trump first announced the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday — and by Tuesday, US Central Command, which coordinates the joint forces in the Middle East, announced the cutoff of Iranian ports was fully implemented.
Caine also stressed, as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did on Wednesday, that non-Iranian-linked traffic is still allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Graphics of a map showing the US Navy’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz during a press conference hosted by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on April 16.
“Let me be clear, this blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports,” Caine said.
“The US action is a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Enforcement will occur inside Iran’s territorial seas.”
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, explained that in addition to cutting off Iranian ports, other US military assets will also stop vessels elsewhere in the world that are supporting the Islamic Republic. AFP via Getty Images
Trump ordered the blockade in response to Iran taking control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which over a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil flows annually.
Iran had spooked maritime traffic by allegedly laying mines, claiming to have forgotten their locations, and firing off drone and missile strik