STORY: :: Hegseth says U.S. forces are ready to resume strikes on Iran if ordered
:: Arlington, Virginia / April 16, 2026
:: Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
"To the caged leadership and IRGC leadership, we're watching you." // "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."
Standing alongside two of the U.S. military's most senior officers, Hegseth said Iran needs to choose wisely as it prepares for negotiations with the United States.
President Donald Trump's administration expressed optimism on Wednesday about reaching a deal to end the Iran war, while also warning of increasing economic pressure against Iran if it remains defiant.
That has included a blockade of Iran that went into effect on ?Monday, with the U.S. military forcing 14 ships to turn around. Dozens of U.S. warships and aircraft, including about 10,000 military personnel, are enforcing the blockade.
