Hegseth: US Is 'Locked and Loaded' on Iran

NewsMax ^ | 04/16/2026 | Staff

[thegagline]

War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said the U.S. military is "locked and loaded" and prepared to escalate against Iran if negotiations fail.

"We are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation, and on your energy industry," Hegseth said during his weekly press conference at the Pentagon, ***

"We'd 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," Hegseth told reporters***

Hegseth issued a direct warning to Iran's military leadership, saying the imbalance in capabilities is decisive.

"Our capabilities are not the same," he said. "Remember, this is not a fair fight. We know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to."

He said Iran's forces are weakened and unable to rebuild.

"You are digging out your remaining launchers and missiles with no ability to replace them. You have no defense industry, no ability to replenish your offensive or defensive capabilities. You only have what you have."

By contrast, he said U.S. forces are strengthening.

"You can dig out for now, but you can't reconstitute. But we can," he said. "We are reloading with more power than ever before and better intelligence, even more importantly, better intelligence than ever before."

"You like to say publicly [to] 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. "Threatening to shoot missiles and drones at ships, that is not control. That's piracy. That's terrorism." ***

Hegseth said the blockade could continue indefinitely but warned of escalation if Iran refuses a deal.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: armchairgeneralsoffr; fafo; habitualcomplainers; habitualcomplaining; iran; negotiations; war

[thegagline]

A couple of thoughts:
1. Locked and loaded (w.c.)
2. Unequivocal and heightened rhetoric which results in increased oil prices increase. This is followed by equivocation and conciliatory rhetoric. Rinse and repeat.

[Carry_Okie]

From what I understand of Iran’s situation, their most direct land resupply lines from China are roads and rails in from Pakistan. Such should have been decoupled in the first wave. Are they?

[TonyM]

It’s like deja vu all over again. How do expect them to take us seriously after wimping out last time?

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I’m tired of the rhetoric. I really am. The US is locked and loaded if negotiations fail. Great. Wake me up when its over. If the administration has cards to play, it needs to play the cards. If the administration has pressure that it can apply, it needs to apply the pressure. Apply the pressure until the IRGC screams. Negotiate WHILE we are applying the pressure. Don’t stop and brag about being locked and loaded to apply the pressure if negotiations fail.

[Leaning Right]

For what it’s worth, the Allies bombed the hell out Germany’s industry and transportation hubs. Yet Germany stayed tough. It took many infantry divisions to force a surrender.

I would expect the same situation in regards to Iran. Absent an internal revolution, the radical mullahs will remain in charge. And they won’t be compromising much at all.

We have already destroyed most of their nuclear sites. That might be the best we can do.

[dfwgator]

Yet Germany stayed tough

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A lot of that had to do with anyone not fighting, getting immediately hung.

Despite that, the Germans surrendered in droves to the Western Allies.

[Vendome]

Drop tinfoil everywhere

[dfwgator]

[hinckley buzzard]

I am surprised and disappointed at the shallowness of many recent comments here. As if no one understands the concept of process, but only focussing on instant results. FR used to be better than this.

[Carry_Okie]

Absent an internal revolution, the radical mullahs will remain in charge.

We have already destroyed most of their nuclear sites. That might be the best we can do.

Given the first of your observations, it had better not be. We must get that enriched uranium out of their hands. It's already material sufficient for a dirty bomb.

See above.

[Leaning Right]

I like your idea (dropping weapons to the Iranian resistance). I wonder why that isn’t done.

Or maybe it is being done, but we are not being told about it.

[thegagline]

Spaghetti westerns are my favorite genre. That and film noir. Tuco has some sage advice.

[9YearLurker]

You may have identified the only thing Clown Hegseth is good for.

[dfwgator]

I liked Cheese Westerns, myself.

[Carry_Okie]

I’ve been insistent about it since this war started. It takes excellent intelligence to place them carefully.

[central_va]

Clown?

[Carry_Okie]

I've been insistent about it since this war started. It takes excellent intelligence to place them carefully.

To which I should have added:

The IRGC, Basij, Quds Forces, etc.; i.e., the thug collaborators who've tyrannized the Persians for half a century, need to die, at first by direct action, and later, pursuant to court trials.

[thegagline]

Anything involving Monty Python or Monty Python adjacent is good in my book.And now I am off to study, “How to Recognise Different Types of Trees From Quite a Long Way Away”

[dfwgator]

Number 3: The Larch!

[mac_truck]

Hegseth is a tool and not a very sharp one.