Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran on Thursday that the United States is "locked and loaded" and prepared to target the country's energy infrastructure if diplomatic efforts fail, speaking from the Pentagon as a US naval blockade of Iranian ports continued.

Hegseth told reporters that Iran's energy infrastructure is "not destroyed yet" and called on Tehran to accept a nuclear deal or face consequences for its remaining power generation and energy facilities. The comments came as the conflict approaches the seven-week mark with a ceasefire now in its ninth day.

Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine reported that 13 ships have turned around at the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth indicated the military is prepared to transition from the current blockade to "major combat operations" if necessary.

During the Pentagon briefing, Hegseth urged Iranian leaders to "choose wisely" regarding potential peace negotiations, with reports suggesting a possible second round of talks may be forthcoming. The defense secretary emphasized that the US military stands ready to strike Iran's power plants and energy industry if ordered to do so.

The ongoing blockade has raised concerns about potential impacts on gas prices, with the conflict's duration and economic implications becoming a focus of political discussion as the situation continues to develop.