Hegseth: Iran ceasefire still in effect; Trump is running the show, not Israel

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth says US and Israel sometimes disagree on war objectives while praising the IDF as a “very capable partner.”

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that Iran’s recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz do not currently amount to a violation of the ceasefire, even as he warned that US forces are prepared to respond with “overwhelming and devastating American firepower” if attacked.

Speaking at a press briefing with Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth said Project Freedom, the US operation to reopen commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, is separate from Operation Epic Fury and does not mark a return to major combat operations against Iran.

“Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” Hegseth said.

He said American forces would not need to enter Iranian waters or airspace but warned Tehran against further attacks.

“We’re not looking for a fight, but Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway,” Hegseth said.

Caine said Iran has continued lower-level attacks since the ceasefire was announced, including firing at commercial vessels nine times, seizing two container ships and attacking US forces more than 10 times.

He said Iran also attacked Oman once and the UAE three times on Monday, including an attack on the Fujairah oil terminal that was defeated.

Still, Caine said the attacks remained “below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point.”

Asked directly whether the ceasefire was over, Hegseth said it was not.

“No, the ceasefire is not over,” he said. “Ultimately, this is a separate and distinct project. And we expected there would be some churn at the beginning, which happened.”

Hegseth said President Donald Trump would decide whether Iranian actions amount to a ceasefire violation but said Washington was urging Tehran to keep its actions below that threshold.

“Right now, the ceasefire certainly holds, but we’re going to be watching very, very closely,” he said.

Hegseth described Project Freedom as a temporary effort to clear a safe passage lane for commercial vessels trapped by Iranian attacks and blockade activity. He said two US commercial ships and American destroyers had already passed safely through the strait.

“They said they control the strait. They do not,” Hegseth said of Iran.

Caine said about 22,500 mariners aboard more than 1,550 commercial vessels remain trapped in the Arabian Gulf and unable to transit. He said US forces had established an enhanced security area on the southern side of the strait, backed by naval, air and land assets.

Hegseth said the operation is meant to show that Iran does not control the waterway while also pressuring Tehran toward a deal.

“What we’re demonstrating with Project Freedom is they don’t control the strait,” he said. “We know Iran is embarrassed by the fact that our blockade is holding and we can run ships through and we’re going to help the world run ships through.”

Hegseth also rejected suggestions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pulling the United States back toward war with Iran.

Asked about statements by Israeli officials suggesting Israel may continue fighting Iran even if Trump secures a broader ceasefire, Hegseth said the premise was wrong.

“President Trump has led at every step of this based on his view of American interests and America first,” Hegseth said.

He said the Israelis have been “very capable partners,” but acknowledged that Washington and Jerusalem may not always have identical goals.

“They may have some objectives at times that are slightly different than ours,” Hegseth said. “But there’s only one hand on the wheel ultimately directing this, whether it’s Project Freedom or previously Operation Epic Fury, and it’s President Trump.”

IranIran warPete HegsethTrump administration