Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday claimed the U.S. operation to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is a "separate and distinct" one from the more than two-month-old war against Iran launched by President Donald Trump, as he warned Tehran against attacking any American or international commercial traffic transiting the key waterway.
Press Briefing at the Pentagon
Speaking at a press briefing at the Pentagon alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Dan Caine, Hegseth said the mission that has been dubbed "Project Freedom" is meant to "restart the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz" amid skyrocketing petroleum prices as a result of Iran's effective closing of the strait.
"To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission, protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression," he said.
The defense secretary's claim comes days after the expiration of a 60-day deadline for President Donald Trump to secure Congressional approval to continue the war. The Trump administration has faced criticism from lawmakers over the lack of authorization for military actions against Iran.
Hegseth emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz operation is not an escalation but a necessary measure to ensure global energy stability. He noted that Iran's actions have disrupted oil shipments, causing price spikes worldwide.
General Caine added that U.S. forces are prepared to respond to any threats in the region, but reiterated that the mission's scope is limited to protecting commercial vessels. The Pentagon has deployed additional naval assets to the area to support the operation.
