Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 24, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 24, 2026
Hegseth: War against Iran a ‘gift to the world,’ shipping blockade to continue ‘as long as it takes’
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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 24, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls the war in Iran a “gift to the world” as he speaks to reporters at the Pentagon.
Hegseth says the US blockade of Iranian shipping will continue “as long as it takes” to accomplish America’s “bold and dangerous” mission to end Iran’s threat to global security.
He also says that any attempts to lay more mines by Iran would be a violation of the ceasefire while brushing off Pope Leo’s comments criticizing the Iran war, saying the pontiff is “going to do his thing,” and that is fine.
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