Hegseth Claims US-Iran Cease-Fire Holds Despite Iran’s Spike in Attacks on American Forces

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is doubling down on the Trump administration’s narrative that the cease-fire with Iran remains “not over” despite a sharp uptick in Iranian attacks against American forces. Speaking at the Pentagon Tuesday, Hegseth insisted the cease-fire is a “separate and distinct project” from the US effort to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international shipping.

Since the cease-fire was announced on April 8, Iran has launched at least 10 attacks on US forces, according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These attacks, combined with nine assaults on commercial vessels and the seizure of two container ships, have rattled the strategic waterway but remain “below the threshold of restarting major combat operations,” Caine said.

Hegseth framed the US mission as a defense of “freedom of navigation” and “international waterways,” asserting that Iran’s claims to control the strait are false. “The lane is clear,” he declared, pointing to two US-flagged commercial ships that recently transited the strait under US destroyer escort as evidence of American dominance.

This show of force is part of “Project Freedom,” a new military operation launched Monday to break Iran’s chokehold on the Persian Gulf’s vital shipping lanes. The standoff has trapped 22,500 mariners aboard over 1,550 commercial vessels, contributing to global oil price spikes above $110 per barrel.

While dismissing bizarre rumors that Iran is deploying kamikaze dolphins armed with explosives to harass US ships, Hegseth and Caine did not rule out whether the US might possess such capabilities themselves. The Pentagon’s refusal to confirm or deny adds a surreal edge to an already tense situation.

Iran’s persistent low-level attacks appear to be a desperate attempt to exert influence amid internal struggles to maintain control over its southern flank. Yet the Trump administration’s aggressive posture signals a willingness to escalate if Iran crosses an undefined “threshold” of cease-fire violations.

This ongoing brinkmanship highlights the administration’s reckless approach to Iran—a mix of saber-rattling and denial that risks plunging the region back into open conflict while claiming to uphold peace. The question remains: how long before these “below threshold” attacks become an excuse for full-scale war?