U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Remains Intact, Hegseth Says

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in place, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth told reporters on Tuesday, even after the highest level of hostilities since the truce took effect on April 8. Hegseth said President Donald Trump will decide if any escalation violates the ceasefire, signaling that Washington may tolerate some Iranian attacks during the push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Hegseth, the U.S. campaign to pry open the strategic waterway -- dubbed “Project Freedom” -- is a separate and distinct project from the broader U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran, codenamed “Epic Fury.” “The ceasefire is not over. Ultimately, this is a separate and distinct project, and we expected there would be some churn at the beginning, which happened,” he said. The defense secretary added that the U.S. has defended aggressively and that Trump will evaluate whether further incidents amount to a breach.

Project Freedom and Epic Fury: Distinct Military Operations

Hegseth described the U.S. operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as “Project Freedom,” emphasizing it is not part of the larger U.S.-Israeli offensive known as “Epic Fury.” He said the Pentagon anticipated “churn” at the start and that US forces have responded aggressively. The Pentagon chief stated that American destroyers are on station, supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and surveillance aircraft providing “24/7 overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels.” He added that Iranian vessels will not be permitted to pass while the naval siege on Iran’s ports continues.

Monday saw a significant uptick in violence. Iran fired at U.S. Navy ships, the U.S. shot down seven small Iranian military boats, and Tehran renewed drone and missile launches against the United Arab Emirates, according to Al Jazeera. The U.S. military reported that two U.S.-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait after the launch of Project Freedom ^[1]. However, casualties were reported: three people were injured in an Iranian strike on the UAE’s Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone, and Iran says a U.S. attack on a passenger boat killed five civilians. The Pentagon has not confirmed the civilian deaths.

Oil Prices and Economic Fallout

Oil prices have surged since the war began, with the average U.S. petrol price rising to $4.48 per gallon, up from below $3 before the conflict, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has stranded 1,550 ships, according to U.S. officials. Hegseth claimed the U.S. secured passage for two US-flagged commercial ships on Monday, but uncertainty remains about how many vessels will agree to transit while the threat of attacks persists.

President Trump acknowledged the economic fallout, calling it “a very small price to pay for getting rid of a nuclear weapon from people that are really mentally deranged,” as reported by Al Jazeera. Trump later paused the U.S. military escorts in Hormuz on Tuesday, saying the blockade of Iranian ports would “remain in full force and effect” until a final agreement is reached ^[2]. Global oil prices eased slightly after the pause announcement, with Brent crude falling 1.7% to $108 a barrel ^[3]. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

Iranian Response and Claims of Control

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that Tehran is solidifying a “new equation” in Hormuz. “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we have not even begun yet,” he wrote on X. Iran has dismissed the U.S. campaign, asserting it still controls the waterway. The strait was effectively closed shortly after the U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, disrupting about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas flows.

Iran’s military officials have described the attacks on UAE oil facilities as a result of U.S. “adventurism” in the strait, according to Iranian media ^[4]. The U.S. military’s top general said Iran’s recent attacks were “below the threshold” of restarting the U.S. bombing campaign ^[5]. Meanwhile, analysts have noted that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran fits a pattern of regime-change ambitions dating back years, as documented by former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter in his book “Target Iran” ^[6]. Other observers have characterized the nuclear threat as a manufactured pretext for war ^[7].

Ceasefire Fragile but Holding

Both sides maintain opposing positions: the U.S. says the ceasefire is intact, while Iran says it is not bound by it during the Hormuz standoff. U.S. allies have declined to join military efforts to reopen the waterway, and Hegseth said the operation is “temporary” and will be handed over to other countries. Uncertainty remains over how many ships will agree to pass through while the threat of attacks persists.

“The ceasefire is four weeks old and showing its age,” wrote BBC correspondent Jeremy Bowen, noting that U.S. and Iranian determination to keep pressure on each other has put the truce in serious jeopardy ^[8]. For now, the ceasefire holds, but both Washington and Tehran continue to test its limits.

References

1. US says two American-flagged vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz - Times of Israel. May 4, 2026.
2. Trump pauses US military escorts in Hormuz - RT.com. May 5, 2026.
3. Oil prices ease as US pauses Project Freedom to seek deal with Iran - BBC.com. May 6, 2026.
4. Iranian Media: Attack on UAE Oil Facility Result of US ‘Adventurism’ in the Strait of Hormuz - Antiwar.com. May 4, 2026.
5. Top US General Says Iran’s Attacks ‘Below the Threshold’ of Restarting Bombing Campaign - Antiwar.com. May 5, 2026.
6. Target Iran: The Truth About the White House's Plans for Regime Change - Scott Ritter.
7. Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare - Gareth Porter.
8. Bowen: Strait of Hormuz standoff raises risk of sliding back into all-out war - BBC.com. May 5, 2026.
9. Pentagon Touts 10,000-Target Milestone as Iran Rejects U.S. Peace Overtures - NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. March 27, 2026.