Wisconsin [US], August 25 (ANI): US War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday (local time) said the United States is prepared to use military force against Iran, including in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Washington is 'by no means' ruling out kinetic strikes as it continues to exert economic pressure on Tehran.

Asked whether kinetic strikes are currently on pause, Hegseth said, 'No. If we need to use kinetic strikes, we'll use them. If Iran is foolish enough to overplay their hand or mess with the American military, we'll do what we need to do. But economic pressure, we know, hurts them the most right now. And by no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran.'

Hegseth made the remarks on the sidelines of his visit to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he travelled north to meet with defence industry workers he referred to as part of the 'Arsenal of Freedom.'

Hegseth said he was due to meet Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and that the administration was coordinating with him on economic pressure against Iran.

'I'm going to see the Treasury Secretary today. We've been in full coordination with him on the Economic Fury and all the pressure that he can bring to bear, and we know that Iran can't handle it,' Hegseth said.

'Ultimately, their economy is in a spiral. They also know that we control the Strait of Hormuz, that our blockade is ironclad, and that oil is flowing through it. And you've seen some of the numbers. Iran can't run anything through; we can. The world economy realises that, and so they made a big bet on controlling it, and they can't,' he said.

Hegseth also pointed to the impact of US military action on Iran's naval and missile capabilities.

'The devastating things our military did to their navy and their ability to sense and see, and radars and missiles. They still have some capabilities, but it's nowhere near what it was at all. And so we could protect the shipping going through the straits, allowing oil to flow,' he said.

Hegseth said continued economic pressure could push Iran toward negotiations over its nuclear programme.

'More economic pressure only ensures that Iran really has no choice but to come to the table and actually talk about their nuclear program, which is what the president has demanded,' he said.

Separately, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani responded to the new US sanctions in a post on X, saying Iran's government and President would guide the country through the 'phase.'

https://x.com/F_Mohajerani/status/2091951264095477989

'The government and the president, with wisdom and resolve, will guide the country through this phase as well. We do not deny the economic hardships; but with sound judgment and by preserving unity, as in days past, we will pass through this intense gauntlet,' Mohajerani said.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday (local time) announced the launch of 'Operation Economic Outcast', saying the campaign aims to sever Iran's financial connections around the world and cut off revenue sources supporting the Iranian regime.

While addressing a press conference, Bessent said, 'The US Department of the Treasury has launched Operation Economic Outcast, an unprecedented campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its neighbours.'

'During World War II, D-Day marked the historic beginning of a joint campaign with our allies to target and drive the enemy from its positions, including those in third countries. Today, in that same spirit, we are launching an economic onslaught against Iran's financial connections around the globe. Our goal is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime,' Bessent said.

Bessent said Iran now faces a choice between global isolation and a return to the international economy.

'Iran now faces a clear choice, with only two paths before them: complete global isolation and a subsistence economy, or a path to normalcy with the opportunity to rejoin the global economy. Today we are launching Operation Economic Outcast to foreclose all other options available to the Iranian regime,' Bessent added. (ANI)