The United States is “not looking for a fight” over the Strait of Hormuz, and its ceasefire with Iran still holds, but any attack on commercial shipping will be met with a “devastating” response, the Pentagon chief said.
The warning from Pete Hegseth came on the second day of a US effort, dubbed ‘Project Freedom’, to facilitate the transit of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed in response to the US-Israeli war on the Islamic republic.
“We’re not looking for a fight. But Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway,” Hegseth told reporters.
“If you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping, you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower.”
The Pentagon chief added that Washington is promising security for commercial vessels with a “red, white and blue dome” over the Strait of Hormuz.
“As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the Strait,” Hegseth said, noting that US destroyers are on station providing overwatch for commercial shipping, in conjunction with combat and surveillance aircraft.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, meanwhile, said US forces are ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered to do so.
“No adversary should mistake our current restraint with a lack of resolve,” said Gen Caine, flanked by Hegseth.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander responsible for US troops in the Middle East, said on Monday that Washington’s forces had intercepted missiles and drones fired by Iran and also destroyed six small Iranian boats that threatened shipping.
