Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday that Iranian military forces have attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times since a ceasefire between the two sides was announced on April 7. Caine told reporters alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran has also fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships during the same period.
The attacks come as the U.S. military launched an effort called "Project Freedom" to guide commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has severely restricted since American-Israeli strikes began on Feb. 28. The operation drew immediate hostilities between Iranian and American forces.
On Monday, Iranian forces opened fire on U.S. warships in the region. The U.S. military responded by destroying six Iranian small boats, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. Caine noted that the number of Iranian attacks over the preceding month remained "below the level of restarting major combat operations."
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern about the escalation in hostilities and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent the ceasefire from collapsing entirely. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said the repeated Iranian attacks are "deeply troubling" but argued that expanding military operations risks pushing both sides toward full-scale conflict.
Progressive groups including the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft urged the administration to prioritize back-channel negotiations with Tehran over what they characterize as provocative naval deployments near Iranian territorial waters. The organization released a statement arguing that "Project Freedom" amounts to an economic blockade that undermines prospects for a sustainable peace agreement.
Some Democratic members have also questioned whether the ceasefire framework, brokered with international mediation in April, was realistic given longstanding tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program and regional influence.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican lawmakers largely backed the administration's military response, praising U.S. forces for defending American interests and protecting commercial shipping in a vital global corridor. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said Iran is "exploiting the ceasefire to test American resolve" and called on the administration to authorize more aggressive countermeasures.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers of Alabama said the strikes against Iranian boats demonstrated that the U.S. military would not tolerate attacks on its forces or interference with freedom of navigation. He added that Congress should provide additional funding for naval operations in the Persian Gulf.
Conservative commentators argued that Iran, not the United States, is violating the ceasefire by continuing attacks on commercial shipping and regional partners. They pointed to statements from Defense Secretary Hegseth that "the ceasefire is not over" but emphasized the U.S. would defend its forces "aggressively."
What the Numbers Show
The Strait of Hormuz handles approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments, making it one of the world's most strategically significant waterways. Since April 7, Iran has conducted more than 10 attacks on U.S. personnel and assets in the region, according to Caine's statements.
Iranian forces also launched an attack on Oman Monday along with three separate attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Caine reported. The UAE Defense Ministry said Iran fired four cruise missiles toward Emirati territory; UAE forces intercepted three while a fourth landed in the sea.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has restricted commercial shipping through the strait since Feb. 28, when American-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure. Two container ships have been seized by Iranian forces since the ceasefire took effect.
U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces destroyed six Iranian small boats during Monday's engagement with Iranian warships in the Persian Gulf.
The Bottom Line
The pattern of continued Iranian attacks despite the April 7 ceasefire raises questions about Tehran's willingness to abide by the truce terms. Defense Secretary Hegseth has insisted the ceasefire remains in effect while characterizing "Project Freedom" as a separate operation designed to restore commercial shipping through the strait.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf argued Tuesday that American naval operations and the blockade of Iranian ports constitute violations of the ceasefire agreement, a position rejected by the Pentagon. The disagreement highlights ongoing ambiguity about what activities on both sides fall within the truce's scope.
U.S. military officials said they expect "churn" as the Strait of Hormuz operation continues but have pledged to defend American forces and interests in the region. Analysts will be watching for whether Iran scales back attacks, escalates further, or attempts to negotiate modified terms for the ceasefire.