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US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: The US has signalled that its naval blockade of Iran could remain in place for as long as necessary, putting fresh pressure on Tehran as efforts to revive a ceasefire remain stalled. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington has enough naval power to sustain the operation by rotating ships in and out of the region.
The announcement comes as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to affect global shipping and energy supplies. Traffic through the waterway remained below its August average on Thursday, while Washington and Tehran continued to make competing claims over control of the strait.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Says Iran Naval Blockade Could Continue ‘Indefinitely’
Washington is preparing for a potentially prolonged standoff with Tehran after Hegseth said the US Navy can maintain the blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely. The Pentagon chief said the US can sustain the operation by replacing vessels as needed rather than keeping the same ships deployed continuously.
“Indefinitely, the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we’ll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we’ll continue to,” Hegseth told reporters.
The comments came as the US seeks to increase economic pressure on Iran while negotiations over a ceasefire have made little progress. Reuters reported that the blockade has already caused significant economic damage to Iran.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Strait of Hormuz Shipping Faces Fresh Disruption
The prolonged blockade has added to uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for oil and gas shipments.
Shipping traffic through the strait has fallen below the monthly average as the US and Iran continue to dispute who controls the waterway. Kpler data showed nine commodity vessels crossed on Thursday, up from five the previous day but still below the August average of 12 per day.
Iran has claimed control over the strait, while US President Donald Trump has asserted that Washington has “total control” of the strategic passage. Tehran has also maintained that ships cannot cross without Iranian authorisation.
The continuing uncertainty has kept pressure on energy markets. Oil prices remain sensitive to developments around the blockade and any further disruption to commercial shipping.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Ceasefire Talks With Iran Remain Stalled
The US decision to maintain the blockade comes as efforts to revive an interim peace arrangement have failed to produce a breakthrough.
Iran said on August 12 that negotiations with Washington had made no progress. Tehran blamed the US for failing to lift its port blockade and release Iranian assets, while Washington has demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The two sides reached an interim arrangement in June, but the agreement quickly collapsed. Trump declared the deal over on July 7, and Iran subsequently suspended its participation.
Since then, mediators have struggled to bring Washington and Tehran back to a workable agreement. The latest US comments suggest Washington is preparing for the possibility that the confrontation will continue rather than end through an immediate diplomatic settlement.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Creates New Multinational Attack Drone Task Force
Alongside the naval pressure, the US military has expanded its use of unmanned systems in the Middle East. US Central Command has announced Task Force Falcon Strike, its first multinational, multi-domain attack drone task force.
The unit will use one-way attack drones across air, surface and subsurface maritime environments, with US personnel working alongside regional partners.
The new task force builds on CENTCOM’s earlier Task Force Scorpion Strike, which became the US military’s first dedicated one-way attack drone squadron in the Middle East. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the new unit would build on the earlier programme and bring together capabilities developed by the US and regional partners.
CENTCOM said regional partners are being consulted and formally invited to join the task force. The aim is to create a broader network capable of deploying attack drones across multiple domains.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Why Task Force Falcon Strike Matters
The creation of Falcon Strike reflects the growing importance of unmanned warfare in the US-Iran conflict.
The US military has increasingly used one-way attack drones as it seeks cheaper and more flexible options for striking targets and countering Iran’s drone capabilities.
Task Force Scorpion Strike previously demonstrated the use of unmanned systems from US naval platforms. CENTCOM has also used unmanned surface vessels in operations around the Strait of Hormuz.
The new multinational structure could allow the US and regional partners to coordinate these systems more closely and expand their use across the Middle East.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iraq Reaffirms Sovereignty Amid Regional Tensions
Iraq has separately reaffirmed that it will not allow its territory to become a launchpad for attacks against neighbouring countries.
During high-level security discussions in Riyadh with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Iraqi officials stressed Baghdad’s position on protecting its sovereignty.
Iraq’s Prime Minister’s Office director, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, said Baghdad rejects any violation of Iraqi sovereignty and would not allow Iraqi territory to be used to threaten neighbouring states. The statement was carried by the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
The message comes as regional governments face growing pressure to prevent their territory and airspace from becoming part of the wider US-Iran confrontation. Baghdad has repeatedly sought to distance itself from attacks involving neighbouring states while maintaining security ties with countries across the region.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Pressure on Iran Intensifies
The combination of the naval blockade, economic pressure and expanded drone operations points to a broader US strategy aimed at maintaining pressure on Tehran while diplomatic efforts remain frozen.
Hegseth’s statement also signals that Washington does not currently view the blockade as a short-term measure. By rotating ships through the region, the US Navy can maintain a sustained presence without relying on the same vessels for the entire deployment.
The strategy carries wider consequences for commercial shipping and energy markets, particularly if tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue. For Iran, the blockade adds another layer of economic pressure at a time when access to maritime trade remains severely disrupted.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: What’s Next?
The immediate focus will remain on whether Washington and Tehran can restart meaningful ceasefire negotiations and reach an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz.
Until then, the US appears prepared to keep its naval blockade in place and rotate forces through the region. Iran, meanwhile, continues to challenge US claims over the strategic waterway.
The situation could also keep global shipping and oil markets volatile. Any further restriction on vessels passing through Hormuz would increase concerns over energy supplies and transport costs.
The launch of Task Force Falcon Strike also suggests that Washington is preparing for a longer conflict environment in which drones, naval forces and regional military partnerships will play an increasingly important role.