Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday warned Iran would face “devastating American firepower” if it tests U.S. efforts to help commercial ships transit the Strait of Hormuz. But he argued the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is “not over” as the administration tries to avoid broader violence and political blowback amid a fresh wave of Iranian attacks.
“If you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping, you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon press conference. “We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft and this mission without hesitation. To Iran: Let innocent ships pass freely.”
Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, offered fresh details of Project Freedom, which President Donald Trump launched Monday to help stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz — a vital energy chokepoint whose closure has wreaked havoc on the global economy.