Today (Tuesday), amid escalating tensions, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared that Iran is misrepresenting its control over the Strait and argued that the reality on the ground tells a different story.
During the statement, Hegseth sharpened his tone toward Iran: “The blockade remains in place, but if Iran attacks, it will meet the full force of American firepower,” though he later clarified that the ceasefire has not yet ended. Hegseth stated that President Donald Trump “has conceded nothing” and “holds all the cards.”According to him, any future deal will ensure that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, but whether that opportunity is seized depends on the Iranian people.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that since the ceasefire was declared, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times, seized two container ships, and attacked U.S. forces more than ten times—”all below the threshold of resuming large-scale combat.”
Caine further noted that due to Iranian attacks in the region, approximately 22,500 sailors on more than 1,550 commercial vessels are currently trapped in the Arabian Gulf and are unable to continue their transit.