LIVE: Pete Hegseth insists Iran ceasefire is ‘not over’

by Phillip Nieto, US Political Reporter

Pete Hegseth says the fragile ceasefire with Iran is still holding, even as he admits that Iranian forces have attacked US troops nearly a dozen times since the pause in hostilities.

He told a Pentagon briefing: ‘The US aims to protect shipping from Iranian aggression. The US won’t need to enter Iranian airspace or waters as part of opening the Strait of Hormuz. We’re not looking for a fight. They said they control the strait, they do not.’

His remarks come after Iran’s chief negotiator warned Tehran has ‘not even started’ in the battle to control the Strait of Hormuz hours after attacks were traded in the waterway.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine noted earlier in the briefing that Iran has attacked ‘attacked US forces more than 10 times’ since the ceasefire began last month.

Iran launched devastating new strikes in the Middle East on Monday after Donald Trump announced the US navy would reopen the Strait of Hormuz with the launch of ‘Project Freedom.’

The UAE has declared it is responding to a missile threat from Iran as the country’s air defence systems are activated.

In a social media post, authorities said: ‘The UAE’s air defenses are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran.

‘The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the UAE’s air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

‘UAE Air Defences system are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats.’

US Central Command, otherwise known as CENTCOM, has said 51 vessels have been turned around or ordered to return to port since the naval blockade was enforced on April 13.

The US military says it sank six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones on the first day of ‘Project Freedom’ as Donald Trump sent the navy to escort stranded tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iran attacked Oman once on Monday and waged three attacks on the United Arab Emirates, before adding that, at least so far, ‘today is quieter’.

by Mark Duell and David Wilcock

Britain was hit by a new Trumpflation blast today as the fallout from the US war with Iran hammered government spending plans and put thousands of summer holidays at risk.

Yields on 30-year government bonds hit their highest rate since 1998 and ten-year bonds their highest since the financial crash as the ongoing uncertainty over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was reignited by fresh clashes overnight.

The markets are also uneasy at the prospect of Sir Keir Starmer being ousted by a more Left-wing Labour figure if the party does badly in Thursday’s local elections, further driving up government borrowing costs.

At the same time, airlines have cut two million seats from May schedules within the past two weeks as concerns build that the war could cut jet fuel supplies to ‘critically low levels’.

Britain could be among the countries worst hit, raising fears that many summer getaways could be cancelled.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pitched a drone deal to Bahrain during a visit to the country today.

Since the US and Israeli war on Iran erupted on February 28, Ukraine has been offering its drones and know-how to several Middle Eastern countries suffering from Iran’s Shahed drone attacks.

Kyiv has gained unique experience in shooting down Iranian drones and similar Russian-made models as Russia has launched hundreds of thousands of them since its full-blown invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zelenskiy said he had discussed with King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa Iran’s strikes against Bahrain and the Strait of Hormuz.

‘Our country is facing similar terrorist strikes almost every day, and our people have relevant experience in full-scale defence,’ Zelenskiy said on X. ‘Ukraine is ready to share this security expertise with Bahrain and help strengthen the protection of life.’

In his press briefing, Pete Hegseth said the US has left a ‘red, white and blue’ dome over the Strait of Hormuz.

In what he described as a ‘direct gift’ to the world, Hegseth said Project Freedom was a humanitarian mission to protect commercial shipping and the lives of seafarers.

He said: ‘American destroyers are on station supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and surveillance aircraft, providing 24/7 over-watch for peaceful commercial vessels – except Iran’s of course’.

Pete Hegseth dismissed a suggestion Donald Trump has ‘capitulated’ on his demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender.

A reporter questioned the Defense Secretary after reading one of the President’s social media posts earlier in the conflict in which Trump asked Iranians to rise up and topple the regime and said there would be no deal without Iran’s surrender.

Hegseth replied: ‘The president hasn’t capitulated on anything. He holds the cards, we maintain the upper hand, and Project Freedom only strengthens that hand.’

Asked by another journalist whether the US and Israel would be ‘roped back in’ to further conflict with Iran, Hegseth insisted Trump was still ‘directing’ the conflict.

General Dan Caine was asked whether he had concerns Iran was training dolphins to carry explosives into the Strait of Hormuz following reports in the American media.

The Wall Street Journal has cited intelligence that Iran was considering deploying mine-carrying dolphins to the strait, though analysts are sceptical the move would work.

General Caine told reporters: ‘I haven’t heard the Dolphin thing. Is that like sharks with laser beams?’

‘Their command and control structure remains very fractured and I think they’re struggling to maintain control.’

Pete Hegseth then added: ‘I can’t confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins. But I can confirm they don’t.’

Pete Hegseth has confirmed the US-Iran ceasefire is ‘not over’ following the exchange of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

‘Right now, the ceasefire holds,’ Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing.

But he warned Iran to remain ‘prudent’ in keeping its actions below the threshold for restarting conflict.

Asked whether Donald Trump would seek approval from Congress for any future military operations, Hegseth said any resumption in the war ‘would be the president’s decision’.

‘The president retains the opportunity and more capabilities than we had at the start of this to restart major combat operations if necessary,’ he said.

General Dan Caine, the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Pentagon Iran has attacked the US on more than 10 occasions since the ceasefire was announced.

General Caine says Iran has ‘repeatedly threatened and attacked commercial shipping’ and is ‘weaponising the global supply chain’ in an attempt to ‘hold the entire global economy hostage’.

He said Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times, seized two container ships and launched attacks on US forces 10 times since the ceasefire was imposed on April 8.

General Caine adds the actions are below the threshold to restart combat operations. Asked what the threshold is, Caine says it is ‘above his pay grade’.

Pete Hegseth says the US remains ‘locked and loaded’ to protect its ships and soldiers amid a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.

Hegseth says the US military is seeking ‘to break Iran’s illegal stranglehold’ over the strait.

He told the Pentagon briefing:

US aims to protect shipping from Iranian aggression. The US won’t need to enter Iranian airspace or waters as part of opening the Strait of Hormuz. We’re not looking for a fight. They said they control the strait, they do not.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said an ‘ironclad blockade’ remains in full effect in Iran.

Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said Project Freedom, which he described as a temporary mission, was launched for humanitarian reasons as well as strategic.

‘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’.