Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 18, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 18, 2026
US will reimpose blockade if Iran doesn’t fulfill deal, Hegseth says
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From left, Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Greece's Defense Minister Nikolaos Dendias, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Hungary's Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Iceland's Defense Minister Katrin Gunnarsdottir, British Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis and Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto during a group photo of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
WASHINGTON — The United States will restart military action and reimpose a blockade if Iran does not fulfill its commitments under its agreement with the US, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tells reporters.
“The president has pointed out that we will be prepared to recommence if underneath the timeline of these talks, Iran does not do what it says it’s going to do,” Hegseth says in Brussels after meeting NATO defense ministers.
“If Iran doesn’t comply, then we’re more than able to reimpose an ironclad blockade.”
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