US calls Iran “clear aggressor” but rules out conflict escalation

WASHINGTON, May 5: The United States is not seeking confrontation with Iran despite escalating tensions in the region, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing.

Hegseth stressed that Washington’s focus is on safeguarding commercial shipping routes from what he described as Iranian harassment in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit chokepoint. “We’re not looking for a fight,” he said, adding that the US considers Iran “the clear aggressor” in recent maritime incidents, while maintaining that Tehran does not control the waterway.

He further stated that the US would not need to enter Iranian airspace or territorial waters to ensure the reopening and security of the strait, noting that hundreds of vessels are currently awaiting passage through the route.

Hegseth also described the US initiative to protect shipping, referred to as Operation Project Freedom, as a temporary mission separate from broader military operations, aimed specifically at ensuring safe maritime transit in the region.