Hegseth: most intense Iran strikes ahead

The United States is preparing for what could be the most intense day of attacks on Iran since the start of the war. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that on Tuesday the military will strike multiple targets in what he described as the most extensive phase of the campaign so far.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said Iran is resisting but has not proven stronger than US commanders expected. ‘They are fighting, and I respect that, but they are not stronger than we thought,’ he told reporters.

The US is also attacking Iranian vessels designed to lay mines. The Pentagon is considering other options, including escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz if requested by the government.

The war has virtually paralysed traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and liquefied gas supplies. Tankers have not sailed through the strait for more than a week, and some producers have had to cut back production as storage tanks fill up.

US President Donald Trump threatened further escalation on Monday if Iran blocks oil exports from the region. At the same time, however, he said the conflict could end relatively quickly. According to Caine, US forces struck more than 5,000 targets in the first ten days, including more than 50 Iranian ships.

(reuters, lud)