U.S. Defense Secretary Says Maritime Blockade Against Iran Can Be "Maintained Indefinitely"

On August 13, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Huang Qiang and Yan Liang) that U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel said on the 13th that the U.S. military has sufficient military strength to "maintain" the maritime blockade against Iran "indefinitely."

According to reports from U.S. News Network, Hagel spoke to the media after addressing the personnel aboard a U.S. warship in Panama, stating, "The U.S. Navy is fully capable of maintaining this blockade indefinitely, as we will continue to rotate ships as we have in the past."

On July 14, the U.S. military announced the resumption of the maritime blockade against vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The U.S. Central Command stated on the 12th of this month that as of that day, the U.S. military had forced 59 merchant ships to change their routes, rendered 3 merchant ships incapable of navigation, and boarded and inspected two merchant ships.

On the 12th, U.S. President Trump posted on social media, stating, "The U.S. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz... Iran is helpless against this." According to a report from the Islamic Republic News Agency on the 13th, a spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, Khatam al-Anbiya, stated in a statement that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's "complete control," and no vessel can pass safely without Iran's permission.