Watch Live: Hegseth and Caine give update on Iran war as ceasefire grinds on
Senior U.S. Army civilian and uniformed officials provide updates on the war in Iran Friday morning, as a US-Iranian ceasefire lasts a week stays in place but both sides are intensifying their competition for control of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have jointly addressed reporters several times since Operation Epic Fury began in late February.
With fighting between the United States and Iran on hold, U.S. forces have imposed a blockade on Iranian ports under President Trump, turning away more than 30 ships so far, according to U.S. Central Command. Meanwhile, Iran has sought to control maritime traffic across the strait, saying on Thursday it had received its first toll revenue on the waterway, a strategically important chokepoint that normally carries a fifth of the world’s oil.
Tensions have increased in recent days as both countries carry out tit-for-tat ship bans. United States intercepted and boarded a pair of oil tankers linked to Iran, and Iran has attacked and allegedly boarded at least two cargo ships in the strait.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards released an edited video Thursday that the corps said shows masked commandos walking toward two cargo ships and climbing aboard. The Philippine government said Fifteen Filipino sailors aboard ships seized by Iran were “safe and unhurt.”
Mr. Trump said Thursday that the United States had “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz. He also ordered the military to “shoot and kill” any Iranian ships that attempted to place mines in the waterway.
Shipping traffic in the strait remains well below pre-war levels.
Earlier this week, President extended two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitelyoffering more time for what he described as Iran’s badly fractured leaders to strike a deal with his administration. Mr. Trump told reporters Thursday that he would resume bombing Iran if Iran did not come to the negotiating table, but he is in no rush.
“I want to make the best deal possible. I could make a deal right now,” he said at an event in the Oval Office, before adding: “I don’t want to rush.”
A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended for three weeks Thursday following talks at the White House between envoys from the two countries. Lebanon could play a key role in any resolution of the Iranian conflict because of Israel’s campaign against the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah. Iran had pushed Israel to suspend its fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon as part of a ceasefire.
This week also saw some upheaval at the Pentagon, as Navy Secretary John Phelan noted. left his position under the leadership of Mr. Trump and Hegseth. The president told reporters Thursday that Phelan was a “great guy” but had trouble getting along with others.
“He’s a tough guy and he’s had conflicts with other people,” Mr. Trump said. “You have to get along, especially in the army.”
