U.S. Defense Secretary: Two U.S. Commercial Vessels Have Safely Transited the Strait of Hormuz, Ceasefire Not Yet Over

BlockBeats News, May 5th, U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin stated that under the protection of the U.S. military, two American commercial vessels have safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that the waterway is currently "open and clear." This action is part of the U.S. "Freedom Navigation Plan," aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping from Iranian interference.

Austin emphasized that this operation is defensive in nature, and the U.S. military does not need to enter Iranian territorial waters or airspace, and it is distinct from previous offensive actions against Iran. He also pointed out that the U.S. is not seeking escalation in the region but will continue to enforce a comprehensive blockade against Iran.

In response to the situation, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. military stated that the recent Iranian-related attacks have not yet met the threshold for initiating large-scale military operations. Austin further warned that if Iran continues to target commercial shipping, they will face "overwhelming firepower," and called on the international community to intervene promptly and share the responsibility for ensuring the security of the waterway.