Hegseth says the US-Iran ceasefire remains intact for now, as Trump wants to finalize a deal.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday defined Project Freedom,

a one-day US military operation to help commercial ships stuck in the Persian Gulf exit through the Strait of Hormuz, as completely separate from the hostilities with Iran that began with joint US-Israeli strikes on the country on February 28.

“This operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with the same mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression,” Hegseth said in a press briefing.

Hegseth said U.S. forces would not need to enter Iranian waters or airspace for Project Freedom, adding: “We are not looking for a fight.”

“But Iran cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from international waterways,” he said.

“Iran’s plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable,” Hegseth said. “It ends with Project Freedom.”

Hegseth said U.S. Warships and aircraft assisting two commercial ships transiting the strait on Monday showed that “the lane is clear.”

He said US Central Command is actively communicating with hundreds of ships around the world that “want to get out of the Iranian trap that they are trapped inside.”

“We would prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but we are closed and deployed to protect our people, our ships, our aircraft and this mission,” he said. “To Iran: Let innocent ships pass freely. These international waters belong to all countries and should not be taxed or controlled by Iran.