Pete Hegseth said the United States has begun actively escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz under “Project Freedom,” while warning Iran against interfering with international shipping or American naval operations in the region.
Speaking during a Pentagon briefing alongside Dan Caine, Hegseth described the operation as defensive, temporary, and narrowly focused on ensuring safe passage for civilian vessels caught amid rising tensions in the Gulf. He stressed that the mission is not intended to trigger a wider war or represent a collapse of the current ceasefire arrangement between Washington and Tehran.
“We’re not looking for a fight,” Hegseth said, while directly challenging Iran’s claims of controlling the strait. He accused Tehran of acting as the aggressor and argued that the United States was stepping in to secure one of the world’s most important shipping routes from disruption.
According to the Pentagon, Project Freedom is designed specifically to protect commercial maritime traffic without requiring US forces to enter Iranian territorial waters or airspace. Hegseth said several commercial vessels have already successfully passed through the corridor under the protection framework, although others were reportedly turned back after approaching restricted Iranian-controlled areas.
The comments come amid continuing confrontations at sea despite the broader ceasefire. General Caine stated that Iran has allegedly fired on commercial vessels multiple times since the ceasefire began, seized container ships, and carried out more than ten attacks targeting US forces. However, he characterised the current level of hostilities as “low harassing fire,” suggesting that the situation has not yet crossed the threshold into full-scale renewed conflict.
Caine also accused Iran of attempting to weaponise the global supply chain by threatening maritime trade routes critical to global oil and energy flows. The Strait of Hormuz carries a substantial portion of the world’s oil exports, and even limited disruptions there have already caused sharp reactions in international energy markets.
To reinforce maritime security, the US has expanded its military presence in the Gulf, deploying destroyers and other naval assets tasked with countering Iranian fast boats, drones, and potential attacks on shipping lanes. Pentagon officials said the visible American military presence is intended both to reassure commercial operators and deter further escalation.
At the same time, Hegseth insisted that Washington’s strategy remains limited and targeted. He rejected suggestions that the US was moving toward a prolonged military campaign or nation-building effort linked to Iran, saying the administration’s objective is strictly to protect navigation and prevent wider economic disruption.
The maritime tensions highlight how fragile the ceasefire remains. While large-scale combat operations have paused, the continued exchanges, vessel seizures, and military manoeuvres around the Strait of Hormuz show that both sides are still engaged in a high-risk power struggle over one of the most strategically vital waterways in the world.
