US Defense Secretary: We are continuing our “steel” blockade on Iranian ports.
US Defense Secretary: We are continuing our “steel” blockade on Iranian ports.
2026-05-30
Shafaq News – Washington
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed on Saturday that his country’s naval forces are continuing the “steel” blockade on Iranian ports, while maintaining complete control over shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Secretary of State said in a press statement that Washington will continue to pressure Iran until an acceptable agreement is reached, adding: “We want to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and are ready for all possible scenarios.”
This comes as the British Maritime Authority confirmed earlier today that US forces are enforcing their naval blockade of Iran “rigorously” despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement that it would be lifted.
The agency warned in a statement that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains “critical,” urging ships to avoid sailing in the area. The statement called on ship captains in the vicinity of Hormuz to demonstrate that they have no intention of heading to Iranian ports, emphasizing that failure to comply with US Navy orders in the Strait of Hormuz puts ships at risk.
An informed source denied earlier on Saturday the statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding lifting maritime sanctions on Iran, coinciding with the continuation of negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement in the region.
This stance comes after Trump announced on Friday that he was lifting what he called the “naval blockade” on Iran and demanding that Tehran immediately open the Strait of Hormuz, while the Iranian Foreign Ministry responded by saying that “no final agreement” had yet been reached with the United States.
shafaq.com
