U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in effect, even as the two sides exchange fire and tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the Pentagon, Hegseth tells reporters that “the ceasefire is not over,” and says the U.S. is defending aggressively but is not seeking a wider conflict. Multiple outlets report that Hegseth frames the current pressure on shipping as part of a separate, temporary operation—described as “Project Freedom”—designed to support the free flow of commerce through the strait.
Sources also report that the Pentagon characterizes Monday’s activity, including an exchange involving ships and missile strikes against the United Arab Emirates, as not constituting a ceasefire violation. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, is cited as stating that Tehran’s attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf and the UAE do not breach the ceasefire. Bloomberg and Reuters also note that U.S. officials stress the operation is distinct from the ceasefire arrangement and that any escalation would be subject to decisions by the president.
