Hegseth calls IRGC 'gang of pirates'

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has provided new details on recent Iranian maritime seizures, describing them as acts of piracy and calling the IRGC a 'gang of pirates.' He stated the targeted vessels were not American or Israeli but 'just random ships,' and detailed the tactics used, saying Iranians 'sailed up to these ships in their small speedboats and fired at them with AK-47s.' Hegseth argued this demonstrates that 'anyone who has a speedboat, weapons, and the wrong intentions can do this.' The comments come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing US naval operations in the region.