Washington, April 16 (QNA) – The United States will continue enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports and prevent all vessels from entering or exiting them “for as long as necessary,” US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Thursday, warning Tehran of further military strikes if no agreement is reached with Washington.

Speaking at a press conference at the Pentagon, Hegseth said Iran would face serious consequences if it failed to change course.

“If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure,” he said.

Hegseth also noted that Iranian forces were attempting to recover equipment from beneath rubble following more than five weeks of US-Israeli strikes.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, speaking alongside Hegseth, said the blockade applies to “all vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports, regardless of nationality.”

He added that US forces would also track ships in other regions if they attempted to deliver assistance to Iran.

Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said Washington was using the ceasefire period to regroup and adapt militarily.

US forces began enforcing the blockade on Iranian ports on Monday following the conclusion of a round of talks between the two sides in Pakistan, which ended without an agreement. (QNA)