U.S. forces in the Middle East are "locked and loaded" to restart combat operations immediately if Iran doesn't agree to a peace deal, top American military officials said on Thursday (April 16).

As part of a campaign to pressure Tehran to sign an agreement, U.S. military forces are mounting a blockade on all ships seeking to enter or leave Iran.

"You Iran, can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do for the people of Iran," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing.

"But if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy."

The Trump administration expressed optimism on Wednesday about reaching a deal to end the war with Iran, while also warning of increasing economic pressure against Tehran if it remains defiant.

Hegseth, addressing the Iranian leadership, said "this is not a fair fight, and we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to."

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. forces were "ready to resume major combat operations at literally a moment's notice."

U.S. Navy ships would pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran, he told the briefing.

Ships trying to break the blockade would be intercepted and warned that "If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force". Enforcement would occur inside Iran's territorial seas and in international waters, he said.

A total of 13 ships have chosen to turn around rather than break the blockade, Caine said, adding that no ships had been boarded so far.

(Production: Pavithra George)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH AND JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN GENERAL DAN CAINE SPEAKING IN THE PENTAGON BRIEFING ROOM

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 16, 2026) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Access all)

1. U.S. SECRETARY, OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH AND CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE ENTERING PENTAGON BRIEFING ROOM AND WALKING TO PODIUMS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, SAYING:

"To the caged leadership and IRGC leadership, we're watching you. Our capabilities are not the same: our military and yours. Remember, this is not a fair fight. And we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to. While you are digging out, which is exactly what you're doing, digging out of bombed-out and devastated facilities, we are only getting stronger. You are digging out your remaining launchers and missiles with no ability to replace them. You have no defense industry, no ability to replenish your offensive or defensive capabilities. You only have what you have. You know that, and we know that. You can move things around, but you can't actually rebuild. You can dig out for now, but you can't reconstitute. But we can. We are reloading with more power than ever before, and better intelligence— even more importantly, better intelligence than ever before, 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."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, SAYING:

"This blockade, which the chairman will detail this morning, is the polite way that this can go. Your energy is not moving and will not move, and we can do this all day. But it's not destroyed yet; your energy industry is not destroyed yet. You'd like to say publicly, Iran, that you control the Strait of Hormuz, but you don't have a navy or real domain awareness. You can't control anything.To be clear, threatening to shoot missiles and drones at ships— commercial ships that are lawfully transiting international waters— that is not control, that's piracy, that's terrorism. The United States Navy controls the traffic going in and out of the strait because we have real assets and real capabilities."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, SAYING:

"But there is an alternative. As our negotiators have said, you, Iran, can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do for the people of Iran. In the meantime, and for as long as it takes, we will maintain this successful blockade. But if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power, and energy. And at the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and our friends over at Treasury are launching Operation Economic Fury as well, maximizing economic pressure across the entirety of the government. To Iran, choose wisely."

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, SAYING:

"Speaking of choosing wisely, a note to the press, to the press corps, to the American media. As I just can't help but notice the endless stream of garbage, the relentlessly negative coverage, you cannot resist peddling. Despite the historic and important success of this effort and the success of our troops, sometimes it's hard to figure out what side some of you are actually on. It's incredibly unpatriotic."

9. WHITE FLASH

10.(SOUNDBITE) (English) PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, SAYING:

"This past Sunday, I was sitting in church with my family, and our minister preached from the Book of Mark, the third chapter. And in the passage, Jesus entered a synagogue and healed a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees came to watch. And as the scripture reads, they came to see whether he, Jesus, would heal him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. You see, the Pharisees, the so-called and self-appointed elites of their time, they were there to witness, to write everything down, to report. But their hearts were hardened. Even though they witnessed a literal miracle, it didn't matter. They were only there to explain away the goodness in pursuit of their agenda. As the passage ends, the Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel against him how to destroy him. I sat there in church and I thought, our press are just like these Pharisees."

11. WHITE FLASH

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, SAYING:

"Your politically motivated animus for President Trump nearly completely blinds you from the brilliance of our American warriors. The Pharisees scrutinized every good act in order to find a violation, only looking for the negative."

13. WIDE OF HEGSETH, CAINE

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE SAYING:

"And as the Secretary said, I'd like to emphasize during this pause that the United States Joint Force remains postured and ready to resume major combat operations at literally a moment's notice."

15. WHITE FLASH

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE SAYING:

"Let me be clear, this blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports. The U.S. 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 and in international waters."

17. WHITE FLASH

18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE SAYING:

"Vessels will be boarded for interdiction and seizure transiting to or from Iranian ports. Turn around or prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force."

19. WIDE OF BRIEFING