Ceasefire still on despite gulf strikes
The ceasefire with Iran is “not over” despite clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday, adding that the US-led maritime mission “Project Freedom” is temporary and limited in scope.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Washington is “overtly and quietly” communicating with Iran to allow the operation to proceed.
“There are some actions that the IRGC takes at times that are outside the bounds of what Iranian negotiators might prefer; it is their responsibility to rein that in and ultimately create the conditions for a deal,” he said.
Addressing the briefing, Hegseth stressed that the United States was “not looking for a fight” in the Gulf, but warned that any Iranian attack on commercial shipping or US forces would be met with a strong response.
He emphasised that Washington’s strategy “remains laser-focused”.
“We are not allowing ourselves to be distracted. This is a separate and distinct effort, temporary in nature, which we intend to hand over to the international community,” he told reporters.
“If you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping, you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower,” he added.
Hegseth also stated that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and not under the control of any single country.
“These international waters belong to all nations, not to Iran to tax, toll, or control,” he said.
The US Secretary of War stressed that no US forces would enter Iranian waters or airspace as part of the operation, adding that “Project Freedom” is “100% separate and distinct” from Operation Epic Fury.
According to Hegseth, the current mission is defensive and aimed solely at protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” he said.
Asked whether South Korea would join Project Freedom, Hegseth replied, “We hope so.”
“We hope South Korea will step up, just as we hope Japan, Australia and Europe will, but we are not waiting for them; we are working to set the conditions to hand over to them,” he told reporters.
He added that US Central Command is in contact with a South Korean vessel that caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz two days earlier.
Meanwhile, US forces remain ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered to do so, according to AFP citing the country’s top military officer.
US Central Command “and the rest of the joint force remain ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered.
No adversary should mistake our current restraint for a lack of resolve,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said.
The US Embassy in Iraq has warned its citizens not to take flights to the country after it recently reopened its airspace following closures during the US–Israel war on Iran, Al Jazeera reports.
“Individuals considering air travel within Iraq should be aware of the ongoing potential risks posed by missiles, drones and rocket-propelled grenades in Iraqi airspace,” the embassy said in a statement on social media.
“Iraq’s Iran-aligned militias continue to plan additional attacks against American citizens and US-associated targets throughout Iraq.”
US citizens have been advised: “Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Depart now if you are there.”
Meanwhile, General Dan Caine said any decision to restart the Iran war would ultimately be political.
“The threshold for restarting is a political decision above my pay grade,” he told reporters. “What I can say is that it is currently below the level of harassing fire; it appears Iran is grasping at straws to attempt action along the southern flank.”
Outlining the goals of Project Freedom, Gen Caine said:
“On Sunday, at the direction of the President, CENTCOM initiated Project Freedom with the objective of facilitating the safe passage of international commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.”
He added that in recent weeks Iran has “repeatedly threatened and attacked” commercial vessels in the Strait in an effort to disrupt traffic and damage the global economy.
“Since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times, seized two container ships, and attacked US forces more than 10 times, all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this time,” Gen Caine said.
