APTOPIX Pentagon
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speak to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
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U.S. forces are pressing ahead with an effort to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. So far only two ships, both of them American-flagged merchant vessels, are known to have passed through. Central Command said its effort to establish a safety corridor involves guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces prefer a peaceful effort to “guide” the more than 22,500 mariners stuck on more than 1,550 vessels out of the Persian Gulf. But they're ready if needs change. Iran denounced the move as a ceasefire violation. Hegseth said the ceasefire remains in effect.
'This is a temporary mission for us,' Sec. Hegseth said. 'We expect the world to step up.'
U.S. military leaders say a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect a day after Tehran was blamed for new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the United Arab Emirates. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a news conference Tuesday that “the ceasefire is not over.” Risks of the war reigniting flared Monday as the U.S. tried to force open the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping. The U.S. military said it sank six small Iranian boats targeting civilian ships. The UAE said Iran attacked it with missiles and drones.
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