Hegseth also said the US will blockade Iranian ports for "as long as it takes."

"If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy," Hegseth told a news conference at the Pentagon.

US forces began blockading Iranian ports at 1400 GMT on Monday after peace talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement the previous day.

General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, said the blockade "applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports."

"If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force," said Caine, who spoke alongside Hegseth.

The general also said that Washington's forces would chase down ships in other areas that try to carry aid to Iran.

"In addition to this blockade, the joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility...will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel, or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran," Caine said.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said a deal to end the war in Iran could be reached soon, although the timing remained unclear.

Trump said a two-week ceasefire, which ends next week, could be extended, although he did not believe that would be necessary as Tehran wanted a deal.

"We're going to see what happens. But I think we're very close to making a deal with Iran," he told reporters, adding if an agreement was reached and signed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, he may go there for the occasion. 

In Islamabad, the venue of last weekend's talks, troops were seen along routes leading into the capital on Friday, but roads were still open and the government had not issued orders for businesses to shut down, as they did prior to the last meeting.

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