U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) that a U.S. operation to protect commercial ships from Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is temporary and Washington is not looking for a fight. “Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission, protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression. American forces won’t need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. It’s not necessary. We’re not looking for a fight.” Mr. Hegseth said during a briefing. Published - May 05, 2026 06:46 pm IST