OAN Staff Addie Davis
6:56 AM – Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided updates on Project Freedom, which involves United States military forces assisting commercial vessels to safely transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Hegseth said that two U.S.-flagged commercial ships as well as American destroyers have already transited through the waterway, which he claimed has “embarrassed” the Iranians.
“They say they control the strait. They do not,” the secretary said.
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He labeled the mission, which began on Monday, as a gift to the world, with a “red, white and blue dome” protecting the strait.
While U.S. forces assist commercial vessels in transiting the strait, Hegseth made it clear that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect. Since the commencement of Project Freedom, the secretary claimed six vessels have tried to run the blockade but were turned away.
The new mission is distinct from the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran known as Operation Epic Fury, with Hegseth emphasizing that the project focuses on opening up the waterway for commercial shipping. Though he said it is intended to be a peaceful operation, he stated that the United States remains ready to defend its efforts should Iranian forces enact hostilities.
General Caine reiterated the importance of the waterway, a transit route for about one fifth of the world’s global oil consumption, and said through threatening and cutting off commercial shipping, the regime has attempted to hold the global economy hostage.
Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury on February 28th, the strait has been virtually closed, and Caine said that since the announcement of the ceasefire in early April, Iran has fired nine times at commercial vessels and has seized two container ships, as well as has attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times. However, he explained that so far hostilities remain below the threshold to restart major combat operations, though U.S. military forces have eliminated threats.
The general explained that more than 22,500 crew members on over 1,550 commercial vessels are trapped in the Arabian Gulf.
When announcing Project Freedom, President Donald Trump labeled it as a “humanitarian gesture,” shedding light on the difficulties faced by trapped vessels.
“This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries, but in particular, the Country of Iran. Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday.
Caine described the military capabilities involved in the project, explaining that the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has established an enhanced security area at the southern side of the strait, protected by U.S. land, air and naval forces, including 15,000 service members.
When asked by One America News Chief Pentagon Correspondent Alexandra Ingersoll if the Iranian small boat fleet poses a significant threat, Hegseth said that every threat needs to be taken seriously, but emphasized that the small vessels are all the Islamic Republic has left. He noted that previous attack boats were dealt with before becoming a significant hazard to American military vessels, and that U.S. forces would not allow a threat to gather.
Ingersoll also asked the secretary for his response to criticism that the U.S. does not have a strategy for the mission.
“The strategy remains laser-focused,” Hegseth stated.
He reiterated that Project Freedom remains a separate effort from Operation Epic Fury to reopen commercial shipping lanes.
Both Hegseth and Caine emphasized that although the ceasefire remains in effect, the U.S. remains ready to restart major combat operations if needed.
The secretary claimed that U.S. objectives are clear, restating that a major goal for the conflict is ensuring the Islamic Republic never obtains a nuclear weapon.
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