U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday (April 24) said the U.S. is open to "a serious European effort" to assist in ending the standoff with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We would welcome that," Hegseth said at a news conference. "We would, a serious European effort to do something about this Strait and this passage, considering it's their energy capabilities that are most at stake."

Standing next to top U.S. General Dan Caine, Hegseth said the U.S. was "not anxious" for a deal with Iran, and repeated Trump's previous comments of having "all the time in the world."

"Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely ... at the negotiating table. All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways," he said.

Caine said the U.S. Central Command continues to maintain a strict blockade on all ports in Iran. Thirty-four ships had been turned around as of Friday morning, he ‌said. The U.S. ⁠military would continue to interdict Iranian vessels in the Pacific and Indian oceans, Caine added.

"We're enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality that is transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory," Caine said.

Peace talks between Iran and the United States could resume soon in Pakistan, three Pakistani sources told Reuters on Friday, after the last round of talks expected earlier this week fell through.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Hegseth: U.S. would welcome "serious European effort" to help with Strait of Hormuz

VIDEO SHOWS: US SECRETARY OF DEFENCE, PETE HEGSETH AND CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS DAN CAINE SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE

SHOWS: ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 24, 2026) (REUTERS-Access all)

1. CHAIRMAN OF JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE

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

"First, as I mentioned, U.S. Central Command continues to maintain a strict blockade on all the ports. We're enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality that is transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory. We are closely tracking vessels of interest headed towards Iran and those moving away from Iran. They were outside the blockade area when this blockade was ordered. And as everyone saw this past weekend, we're prepared and postured to intercept them."

3. WHITE FLASH

4.. (SOUNDBITE)(English) CHAIRMAN OF JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE [DESCRIBING AN INCIDENT AT SEA IN WHICH THE U.S. FIRED AT A VESSEL IGNORING COMMANDS UNDER THE BLOCKADE] SAYING:

"Over a six-hour period, the vessel and her crew repeatedly ignored U.S. warnings, and then the U. S. Navy destroyer executed a series of pre-planned, carefully calibrated escalation options, including firing five warning shots. The vessel and her crew continued to ignore warnings. And after exhausting all other measures, CENTCOM authorized disabling fire against the Tusca. U.S. sailors warned the crew of the Tusca to abandon the engine room. And at approximately 9 a.m. Eastern time, the destroyer disabled the Tusca's engine by firing nine inert rounds from the destroyers' Mark 45 5-inch guns precisely into the engine room and engine space on board the Tusca. Not surprisingly, the vessel then reported issues with their engine. Went dead in the water and began to comply with U.S. directions and orders."

5. WIDE VIEW OF PENTAGON CHIEF PETE HEGSETH AND GENERAL DAN CAINE

6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) US SECRETARY OF DEFENCE, PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

"Part of what the president's threatening is ensuring if there's attempts to lay recklessly and irresponsibly lay more mines, we're going to deal with that. It's a violation of the ceasefire. So transit is occurring much more limited than anybody would like to see and with more risk than people would like see. But that's because Iran is doing irresponsible things with small fast boats, crafts, like I said, with weapons on them. These are commercial ships, in some cases cruise ships, cruise ships that came through are being threatened."

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE)(English) US SECRETARY OF DEFENCE, PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

"I know there is a lot of talks, you saw the, I would call it a silly conference in Europe last week where they got together and talked about talking about maybe doing something eventually when things are done. Those are not serious efforts yet. We would welcome that. We would welcome a serious European effort to do something about this Strait and this passage, considering it's their energy capabilities that are most at stake. I think it's a wake-up call. It's a wake-up call for countries around the world. Either you have capabilities or you don't. Otherwise, you're at the behest of a country like Iran, and the only country that can do something about it is the United States military."

9. WIDE VIEW OF HEGSETH AND CAINE AT NEWS CONFERENCE