US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the US-Iran ceasefire remains in effect despite Monday’s hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, while warning Tehran to exercise restraint.
Asked at a Pentagon briefing whether the truce had collapsed, Hegseth said: “No, the ceasefire is not over.” He reiterated that “Project Freedom” — the US-led merchant shipping protection operation through Hormuz — remains separate from any direct military action against Iran.
“We said we would defend and defend aggressively, and we absolutely have. Iran knows that,” Hegseth said. “Ultimately, the president is going to make a decision whether anything were to escalate into a violation of a ceasefire.”
He added: “Certainly we would urge Iran to be prudent in the actions that they take to keep that underneath this threshold. Right now the ceasefire certainly holds, but we’re going to be watching very, very closely.”
Hegseth’s remarks are the first senior Pentagon confirmation that Washington is treating Monday’s Hormuz incidents — including reports that the US Navy sank six Iranian craft and that Brent crude jumped above $115 — as defensive engagements rather than ceasefire violations. Iranian officials had earlier this week told international audiences that nuclear negotiations had not even started and rebuffed mediation overtures.
For Sri Lanka, the Pentagon’s framing keeps the diplomatic track alive and limits the risk premium on fuel imports. Brent’s reaction during Tuesday’s session will be closely watched by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, which is still working through the cost shock from this week’s earlier Hormuz scare.
Sources: Ada Derana via Reuters.
