IRAN WILL FACE ‘OVERWHELMING FIREPOWER’ IF COMMERCIAL SHIPS ATTACKED, SAYS US DEFENCE CHIEF

Tue 05 May 2026:

The US military seeks “to break Iran’s illegal stranglehold” over the Strait of Hormuz in its Project Freedom naval operation, says US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“US aims to protect shipping from Iranian aggression. The US won’t need to enter Iranian airspace or waters as part of opening the Strait of Hormuz,” he told a press conference at the Pentagon.

“We’re not looking for a fight. They said they control the strait, they do not.”

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Iran will face ‘overwhelming firepower’ if commercial ships attacked

The US defence chief has warned Iran it will unleash heavy attacks if vessels carrying out trade are targeted during its operation Project Freedom.

“As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white, and blue dome over” the Strait of Hormuz, said Hegseth.

“Iran will face overwhelming firepower if it attacks commercial shipping.”

General Caine says US forces successfully thwarting Iranian sea strikes

This is some of what he said:

At the direction of the president, CENTCOM initiated “Project Freedom” with the objective of facilitating the safe passage of international commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships in the strait, and they’ve attacked US forces more than 10 times – all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations.
Iran has continued to deliberately attack its neighbours. Just yesterday, Iran attacked Oman once, and the UAE three times, including an attack on Fujairah oil terminal, which was successfully defeated.
Iran also launched cruise missiles and drones at US forces defending commercial shipping in the strait. US navy MH-60 helicopters and army AH-64 Apache helicopters successfully defeated those threats.
CENTCOM has established an enhanced security area on the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz that is now protected by US land, naval and air assets to help defeat further Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.
The following are our capabilities: Fast boats and one-way attack drones in the air. More than 100 fighter attack aircraft and other manned and unmanned aircraft, synchronised by the 82nd Airborne Division, are in the air 24 hours a day, providing defensive overwatch for the enhanced security area.
These forces are comprised of over 15,000 American service members, and have established localised air and sea control to protect against Iranian threats. Commercial vessels that transit through the area will see, hear and feel US combat power around them, on the sea, in the skies and on the radio.
We anticipate that more flag merchant vessels will transit over the coming days further up the Gulf. US naval forces and Central Command continues to work to identify and mitigate any threats beyond “Project Freedom”.
CENTCOM and the rest of the joint force remain ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered to do so. No adversary should mistake our current restraint with a lack of resolve.