Pete Hegseth says US poised to take out Iran’s energy infrastructure if it doesn’t comply with peace terms

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a warning directly to Iran in a Thursday morning press briefing, saying that if Iran doesn't agree to peace terms, the US would take out the country's energy infrastructure and industry. He told the country to "choose wisely."

"To Iran’s military leadership, to the Cage leadership and IRGC leadership, we’re watching you," Hegseth said. "Our capabilities are not the same, our military and yours. Remember, this is not a fair fight, and we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to. While you are digging out, which is exactly what you're doing, digging out of bombed-out and devastated facilities, we are only getting stronger."

He said that Iran has no ability to replace its missiles and launchers, no defense industry, and "no ability to replenish your offensive or defensive capabilities." He added, "You only have what you have. You know that, and we know that you can move things around, but you can't actually rebuild. You can dig out for now, but you can't reconstitute, but we can."

"We are reloading with more power than ever before, and better intelligence, even more importantly, better intelligence than ever before. As you expose yourself with your movement to our watchful eye, we are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation and on your energy industry."

He said the administration would "rather not have to do it, but we’re ready to go at the command of our president and at the push of a button." The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz "is the polite way this can go," Hegseth said.

"Your energy is not moving and will not move. And we can do this all day, but it's not destroyed yet. Your energy industry is not destroyed yet. You'd like to say publicly, Iran that you control the Strait of Hormuz, but you don't have a navy or real domain awareness. You can't control anything." He said that threats to shoot missiles and drones at commercial ships transiting the passage is not control, but rather "piracy" and "terrorism."

Hegseth said the US would maintain the blockage for "as long as it takes," but "if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power, and energy. And at the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and our friends over at the Treasury are launching Operation Economic Fury as well, maximizing economic pressure across the entirety of the government."

"To Iran, choose wisely," Hegseth said. He said the US had moved "seamlessly" from military operations to a blockage, and "we can make that transition again very quickly and even more powerfully than ever."

"At the direction of President Trump, the War Department will ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon, never. We'd prefer to do it the nice way, through a deal led by our great Vice President and negotiating team, or we can do it the hard way."