Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:37pm on 24 Apr 2026,Friday International
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said Washington is not rushing into a deal with Iran, even as tensions escalate in West Asia. He emphasized that Tehran still has a chance to negotiate but must abandon its nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, the U.S.-led naval blockade targeting Iran is expanding globally, with ships linked to Iranian ports being intercepted across international waters. The blockade, enforced since mid-April, has already turned away multiple vessels and could intensify further with additional military deployments. Hegseth also warned Iran against provocative actions like laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, calling them ceasefire violations. (PC: AFP)
