Hegseth again threatens Iran with infrastructure strikes

Pakistan said it expects to host a second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran but did not say when it would take place.

Iran’s supreme leader ‘believed to be alive, wounded and disfigured’

18 minutes ago / 8:53 AM ET

Sydney Carruth

Asked for an update on the status of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Hegseth said there is “not a lot coming from him right now,” and repeated the Trump administration’s frequent but unverified claim that Khamenei is “believed to be alive” but “wounded and disfigured.”

Khamenei is the second son of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iran.

Trump and Hegseth have repeatedly claimed the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran have killed so many senior members of the Islamic regime that there has been a regime change — but both have balked at the notion that Trump launched the war to force regime change within Iran’s clerical and military establishment.

Gen. Dan Caine threatens Iran with military force amid ceasefire

36 minutes ago / 8:34 AM ET

Sydney Carruth

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. military is prepared to use force if Iran breaches the U.S. naval blockade of Iran’s ports throughout the Persian Gulf — despite the two-week ceasefire that still remains in effect.

“Do not attempt to breach the blockade,” Caine said. “Vessels will be boarded for interdiction and seizure, transiting to or from Iranian ports: Turn around or prepare to be boarded if you do not comply with this blockade. We will use force, and as this message is being transmitted, as I mentioned earlier, those shipmasters can literally see, sense and feel the pressure around them.”

Caine said the U.S. Navy has executed similar operations to turn Iranian ships away “13 times since the blockade has begun.” U.S. Central Command announced that the naval blockade of Iranian ports had been “fully implemented” yesterday.

“We’re now 24 hours-plus into the blockade. You can see the turning around of multiple ships, 12 of which stayed inside the blockade line, one of which is not depicted off to the eastern side, turned around before even attempting it,” Caine said, pointing to a map of the Strait of Hormuz that demonstrated the U.S. Navy’s red line for Iranian vessels.

Caine said any Iranian vessel that attempts to cross the blockade will result in the U.S. Navy executing “pre-planned tactics designed to bring the force to that ship, if need be, board the ship and take her over.” Those tactics, the general said, include a series of escalated force options, such as warning shots and “others.”

Photo: Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images

Hegseth: U.S. blockade of Iranian ports will last ‘as long as it takes’

41 minutes ago / 8:30 AM ET

Sydney Carruth

Hegseth, speaking at the press briefing, said the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports throughout the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman will last “for as long as it takes.”

“We’re using 10% of the world’s most powerful navy, and you have 0% of your navy — that’s real control,” Hegseth said. “We have a long track record of dealing with pirates and terrorists. But there is an alternative, as our negotiators have said: ‘You, Iran, can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do for the people of Iran.’ … In the meantime, and for as long as it takes, we will maintain this … successful blockade.”

The defense secretary’s remarks struck a tone of warning to Iran after peace negotiations between the U.S., Iran and Pakistan collapsed in Islamabad last weekend. It remains unclear when the next round of negotiations will take place.

“If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy,” Hegseth said, echoing threats from President Donald Trump.

Hegseth added that the U.S. Treasury will attempt to maximize “economic pressure across the entirety of the government to Iran.”

“Choose wisely,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth calls press ‘very unpatriotic’ for negative war coverage

an hour ago / 8:25 AM ET

Hayley Meissner

As he tends to do in these press briefings, Hegseth focused much of his ire on the media for its coverage of the war, which is in its 48th day.

“I just can’t help but notice the endless stream of garbage,” Hegseth told reporters, slamming what he called the “relentlessly negative coverage.”

“Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what side … you’re actually on,” he continued. “It’s incredibly unpatriotic.”

Many U.S. historians and free speech activists would likely suggest that the press — often referred to as the “Fourth Estate” to emphasize its role in American democracy — is in fact acting patriotically by seeking to hold those in power to account.

Hegseth again threatens Iranian infrastructure if no deal

an hour ago / 8:12 AM ET

Hayley Meissner

During his press briefing, Hegseth again threatened to have the U.S. military strike Iranian energy infrastructure if the Persian Gulf country doesn’t agree to a ceasefire deal.

“If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy,” the defense secretary said.

The threat echoes similar warnings made by Trump in recent weeks. Experts have warned that destroying civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes.

House to vote today on whether to rein in Trump on Iran war

an hour ago / 8:01 AM ET

Kevin Frey and Mychael Schnell

When the House votes today on whether to rein in Trump’s war with Iran, Democrats expect nearly unanimous support among their caucus.

What remains unclear is whether even a small number of Republicans will join them — and whether it will be enough to send a message to the president about Congress’ willingness to check his military authority.

On the GOP side, Democrats aren’t sure what to expect. 

A similar war powers resolution failed last month, 212-219 — with four Democrats joining with Republicans in opposition. (Only two Republicans voted in support.)

Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York — the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee — told MS NOW they have every Democrat but one in support, “and we’re working on that one.” 

“I have two Republicans, and I’m working on a few others who are on the fence,” he said. “I don’t think they’re going to get off the fence until such time there’s a vote. I don’t know which way they’re going to go.”

Read the full story here.

Hegseth, Caine hold press briefing this morning

an hour ago / 7:52 AM ET

Ebony Davis

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to brief reporters this morning on the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

The news conference is scheduled to take place at the Pentagon at 8 a.m. ET.

Trump official: Iran talks not linked to Israel-Lebanon talks

an hour ago / 7:51 AM ET

Julia Jester and Ebony Davis

Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are separate from ongoing talks between Israel and Lebanon, a senior Trump official told MS NOW.

The official emphasized that while the talks are not linked, the U.S. wants a durable resolution but has not called for an immediate ceasefire.

“The United States’ focus is on building trust between the two governments so that we can create space for a peace deal, and so that any future understandings can be durable. Both sides need to build political momentum,” the official added.

Talks between Israel and Lebanon are ongoing amid heightened tensions along the border. Despite continued diplomatic efforts, clashes still persist. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier that the Israeli military is homing in on Hezbollah’s capital in southern Lebanon.

Opinion

As his war with Iran rages on, Trump is acting like a madman

an hour ago / 7:48 AM ET

Chris Hayes

Donald Trump is a profoundly unwell man. Now, if you are a regular viewer of “All In,” you have probably heard me make some variation of that argument for over a decade. But even by the degraded standard we are used to, it has become clear that he has taken a turn for the worse.  

This week, The New York Times published a lengthy article on the president’s mental state, highlighting Trump’s “erratic behavior and extreme comments in recent days,” noting his words and actions “have left many with the impression of a deranged autocrat mad with power.” 

Now, we all knew this well before the Times published that piece — because we are living it.