Iran War Live Updates: Hegseth Says U.S. Is Poised to Resume Combat if Talks Fail

Iran War Live Updates: Hegseth Says U.S. Is Poised to Resume Combat if Talks Fail

NY Times-April16th2026

By: Eric Schmitt John Ismay Elian Peltier and Aurelien Breeden

Here’s the latest.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday threatened U.S. attacks on Iran’s power plants and other energy sites if its leaders did not agree to a peace deal, less than a week before a temporary cease-fire is set to expire.

Speaking at a news conference at the Pentagon, Mr. Hegseth repeatedly urged Iran’s leaders to “choose wisely” and said an American naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue “as long as it takes.” The Trump administration has alternated between assuring Americans that a peace deal was within reach and threatening Iran’s leadership if it does not comply, as the war’s economic toll has put President Trump under increasing political pressure at home.

“If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power, and energy,” Mr. Hegseth said. Under international law, intentionally targeting Iran’s civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime.

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the news conference that U.S. Navy forces in the Pacific could be ordered to intercept ships trying to resupply Iran, which would broaden the naval blockade beyond the Middle East.

Iran threatened on Wednesday to halt all trade in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea in response to the blockade. It was unclear how much control Iran could exert over shipping in the region. Its battered armed forces can still use mines and fast boats to harass ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Its allies in Yemen, the Houthi militia, have also shown they can attack shipping in the Red Sea.

Analysts say the U.S. blockade will squeeze Iran’s economy but might not be enough to force concessions from its government or lessen the global energy crunch.

Here’s what else we’re covering:

Israel-Lebanon: President Trump and his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, made separate calls to the Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, on Thursday, Mr. Auon’s office said, as the United States sought to find a formula to halt the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia. The Trump administration has been pressuring Mr. Aoun to agree to a phone call with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, according to two Lebanese officials. Read more ›
Iran peace talks: Pakistan said Thursday that it expected to host a second round of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran but declined to give a date, as senior Pakistani mediators visited Tehran in an effort to shore up the U.S.-Iran cease-fire.