U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the commitment to maintaining a maritime blockade against Iran, stating that military intervention could resume if peace negotiations fail.
On May 30, during a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore following the Shangri-La Dialogue, Hegseth emphasized, "We have the capability to resume operations if necessary, and our resources are more than adequate both there and globally."
He added, "This reflects how we balance precision weapons with ample ammunition."
Hegseth noted that the blockade operations against Iran are "firmly in place" and mentioned that the issue of the Strait of Hormuz was frequently discussed during bilateral meetings at the conference. He stated, "The Strait of Hormuz will be an open waterway, a toll-free passage for the world, as it should be."
On the same day, the U.S. military launched missiles at a Gambian-flagged cargo ship heading for an Iranian port, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM reported that the vessel was observed transiting international waters toward the Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman and that it had received over 20 warnings regarding violations of the U.S. maritime blockade.
Military authorities confirmed that the ship was incapacitated by the missiles and is no longer heading to Iran. No information on casualties has been released.
When asked whether the U.S. is considering a permanent withdrawal of troops from Middle Eastern bases attacked by Iran, Hegseth responded, "That is a decision for President Trump to make," adding that such decisions will be based on the final outcomes of peace negotiations with Iran.
He concluded, "Currently, we are focused on maintaining our readiness to re-engage militarily if necessary."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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