Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the United States ‘does not seek conflict’ in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Navy has launched an operation to ensure free commercial navigation
Os United States “does not seek conflict” in the Strait of Hormuzwhere its Navy began an operation to guarantee free commercial navigation, but any Iranian attack will provoke a “devastating” responsedeclared the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, this Tuesday (5).
“We are not seeking a conflict. But we also cannot allow Iran to blockade innocent countries and their goods in an international waterway,” Hegseth said at a news conference.
As Armed Forces are ready to resume hostilities if ordered, added Joint Chiefs of Staff Commander Gen. Dan Caine.
On the other hand, Iran increased the tone of its threats this Tuesday in the face of the United States operation to escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a day after several attacks in the region put the ceasefire in jeopardy.
Washington and Tehran are locked in a dispute for control of the strategic passage, through which carried 20% of world hydrocarbon trade before the war.
“We know perfectly well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for the United States, while we have not even started yet,” warned Mohamad Bagher Ghalibaf, the main Iranian negotiator, in a message on the social network X.
“The security of maritime transport and energy transit has been threatened by the United States, whose malign presence will diminish,” added Ghalibaf, who is also president of the Iranian Parliament.
Since the start of the war, on February 28, between the United States and Israel against Iran – which caused thousands of deaths, mainly in the Islamic Republic and Lebanon -, Tehran controls the strategic path.
