Hegseth: US-Iran Ceasefire Holds Despite Clashes
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in effect, even as incidents and exchanges of fire continue in the Strait of Hormuz region. He said the United States had secured a route through the strategic waterway and was preparing to resume passage for hundreds of merchant ships.
Hegseth stressed that Iran does not control the strait. "They said they control the strait. They do not", he said.
The US military said it had sunk six Iranian boats and intercepted both missiles and drones following the Navy's deployment as part of operation Project Freedom. Hegseth described the operation as temporary and defensive in nature. "US forces won't need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. It's not necessary. We are not looking for a fight", he said.
Since the ceasefire was declared on 7 April, Iran has attacked merchant ships nine times and intercepted them twice, according to General Dan Caine. There have also been more than a dozen attacks on US forces. Caine noted, however, that the attacks were "below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point." Hegseth said the US would respond to the attacks and "defend aggressively".