PANews reported on April 24 that, according to the New York Times, U.S. Defense Secretary Hergsays emphasized one of the Trump administration's main war objectives at the start of a press conference: "Ultimately, Iran will not possess nuclear weapons." Trump has not yet decided whether to achieve this through diplomatic means or a military strike. Hergsays stated that since the White House ordered the blockade of Iranian ports, 34 merchant ships have been intercepted and diverted by U.S. Navy warships.