Pete Hegseth: Iran blockade going "global"

The two sides are likely to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, that key shipping lane where 20% of the world's oil flows through. The Strait remains shut down, as Iran objects to the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon has no plans to end the blockade. In fact, he says they will only expand it. Not only is the blockade growing. In fact, a second aircraft carrier will join the blockade in just a few days. But this growing blockade has also gone global.

CBS News Pentagon Reporter Eleanor Watson joins us now. What does it mean for the naval blockade to go global? It means that any ships that departed from Iranian ports before the blockade began could be pursued by US forces, and we've already seen that happen twice in the last week. Two vessels were interdicted by the US military carrying sanctioned Iranian oil in the Pacific, and that's likely because-- in the Pacific area, and that's likely because China is the largest consumer of Iranian oil. The US tracks these types of so-called dark-fleet vessels, shadow-fleet vessels all the time but now has given an extra push to the military to go and pursue them wherever they are. Closer to Iran, the blockade is expected to grow with that second aircraft carrier. Secretary Hegseth mentioned that carrier is the USS George HW Bush,which will join the USS Lincolnand about a dozen other ships along that wall just off of the Gulf of Oman. No matter how many ships are there, though, Lindsey, this blockade is a long-term strategy. Secretary Hegseth even today said it will take as long as it takes, which really sets up this test of wills between how much pain Iran can take and how long Americans are willing to tolerate higher gas prices. Ellee, what did the secretary say when it comes to mines in the Strait? Well, after weeks of really being kind of coy about whether there were any mines in the Strait, Secretary Hegseth today threatened Iran against laying any more mines. He said the president has given the Navy the authority to shoot and kill any fast-attack speedboats that attempt to lay mines, and that's because it's easier to destroy the mines before they're in the water. That's why during the bombing campaign during the initial phase of this conflict, we saw the military go after those mines' storage facilities. To destroy any mines there now, the president yesterday on Truth Social said the Navy will triple its demining efforts. But even if the Navy sends more of the type of underwater drones it was expected to send, demining could still take some time. The Washington Post earlier this week reported that it could take as much as up to six months to fully clear the Strait, and that means restoring traffic to normal would take even longer.

OK, Eleanor Watson, thank you. CBS News correspondent Cristian Benavides joins us now from West Palm Beach, Florida, where the president will spend the weekend. Cristian, what are we learning about the potential next round of talks? Well, look, President Trump said he is in no rush for these talks or to make a deal, rather, because he wants a, quote, "great one." It comes as we are learning that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will head to Pakistan to resume talks to end the US war with Iran. And we're also learning that Iran's delegation has already arrived. President Trump says that he wants a unified proposal from Iran, noting that there are different factions that are vying for control. Iran's parliament speaker, who was part of the last round of negotiations, is not going to be there, which is why the White House says that Vice President JD Vance also won't be going. Let's take a listen. Steve and Jared will be heading to Pakistan tomorrow to hear the Iranians out. We hope progress will be made, and we hope that positive developments will come from this meeting, and we will see. And the president, the vice president, the secretary of state will be waiting here in the United States for updates, and the vice president, I understand, is on standby and will be willing to dispatch to Pakistan if we feel it's a necessary use of his time. Now, President Trump has repeatedly stated his goal, that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson announced goals for their side in state media earlier today, saying that Iran wants relief from sanctions, as well as compensation and a guarantee against any future attacks from the US and Israel. Lindsey. Cristian Benavides, thank you.