The United States affirms that the ceasefire with Iran holds despite the attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

In the first press conference since the beginning on the eve of Project Liberty launched by President Donald TrumpHegseth insisted that this is an “independent” and “distinct” initiative from his previous attacks on the Islamic republic, and It has a “defensive nature, focused scope and temporary duration.”

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“The ceasefire has not ended,” the Pentagon chief warned, adding that he expected “some activity” at the beginning of these operations, which have “a single mission: to protect innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” he added.

These statements come after Tehran today accused Washington of endangering security in the strait by “violating the ceasefire.” with the operation in which the US has mobilized hundreds of aircraft, destroyers and drones to facilitate the passage of ships trapped as a result of the Iranian blockade of the route.

According to Hegseth, “US forces will not need to enter Iranian waters or airspace” because “it is not necessary.”

“We are not looking for a confrontation. However, Iran cannot be allowed to prevent innocent countries and their goods from accessing an international waterway,” He clarified, while indicating that the interruption of the passage of crude oil and merchandise through the maritime route by Iran is “an unacceptable form of international extortion.”

For its part, The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, Dan Caine, stated that “since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial ships on nine occasions and has seized two container ships.”

“They have attacked US forces more than 10 times, although all of these incidents have remained, up to this point, below the threshold that would justify the resumption of large-scale combat operations.”he added.

Caine insisted, however, that US joint forces continue to “identify threats” and “remain ready to resume large-scale combat operations against Iran, should the order be received.”

“No adversary should confuse our current contention with a lack of resolve”he pointed out.

Hegseth also warned the international community that this is only a temporary solution and that it will soon be their turn to secure passage through the strait, through which 20% of the world’s oil circulated and whose traffic was interrupted by Iran in retaliation for the war launched by the US and Iran on February 28.

“The world needs this waterway much more than we need it. We are stabilizing the situation so that trade can flow again. However, we hope that the international community will take responsibility at the right time. We will soon return control of the situation to them,” he said.