Ceasefire with Iran Has Not Ended: Pete Hegseth
Photo: Reuters.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the ceasefire with Iran has not ended, despite the exchange of attacks between the US and Iran amidst tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Persian Gulf.
Hegseth pointed out that the US has succeeded in ensuring a safe passage in this critical waterway, where hundreds of commercial vessels are lined up to transit.
"We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this. They claimed they were in control of the Strait. In reality, they are not," he said during a press conference at the Pentagon.
The US military reported sinking six small Iranian boats and intercepting Iranian cruise missiles and drones. This follows President Donald Trump’s deployment of the Navy a day earlier under "Operation Project Freedom" to protect oil tankers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
On the first day of the operation on Monday, several commercial vessels in the Gulf reported explosions or fires.
General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iran launched attacks once in Oman and three times in the United Arab Emirates on Monday. He added that, at least for now, "today is relatively quiet."
According to Kane, Iran has attacked commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships since the ceasefire was declared on April 7. He further mentioned that Iran has targeted US forces more than ten times.
However, he told reporters that these attacks remain "below the threshold for restarting major military operations at this time."
When asked whether the ceasefire with Iran is still in effect, Hegseth replied, "No, the ceasefire has not ended."
He further added, "We said we would defend ourselves and do so vigorously, and we have done exactly that. Iran knows this, and ultimately, the President can decide if something constitutes a violation of the ceasefire."
