Pete Hegseth says the fragile ceasefire with Iran is still holding, even as he admits that Iranian forces have attacked US troops nearly a dozen times since the pause in hostilities. 

He told a Pentagon briefing: 'The 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. We’re not looking for a fight. They said they control the strait, they do not.'

His remarks come after Iran's chief negotiator warned Tehran has 'not even started' in the battle to control the Strait of Hormuz hours after attacks were traded in the waterway.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine noted earlier that Iran has attacked 'attacked US forces more than 10 times' since the ceasefire began last month.

Ahead of Hegseth's Tuesday morning briefing, a report surfaced that Donald Trump was weighing a return to hostilities with Iran. Tehran has refused to come back to the negotiating table, even under mounting pressure from the US blockade of its ports.

Iran launched devastating new strikes in the Middle East on Monday after Trump announced the US navy would reopen the Strait of Hormuz with the launch of 'Project Freedom.' 

Hegseth told reporters that should the President order military attacks to resume then the the Pentagon would immediately respond. 

'That option is always there," Hegseth said of Trump restarting the war. 'And Iran knows that, and that's why, you know, their choices in Project Freedom are important.'

'President Trump has directed U.S. Central Command to restart the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz under the umbrella of Project Freedom,' Hegseth said. 'To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury.'

Trump announced an effort on Monday to guide commercial tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds have been stuck since the Iran war began on February 28. 

Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded by warning that any ship found violating the regime's maritime rules will be stopped by force.

Iran launched four missiles at a US-backed Middle Eastern ally on Monday and blew up a major oil port, following Trump's move to reopen the strait.

The United Arab Emirates issued a missile alert on Monday morning, the first since the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced last month.

The UAE's Defense Ministry said it intercepted three missiles, while a fourth 'fell into the sea.' An official noted that the country's air defenses 'are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran.'

Trump said the US had 'shot down seven small boats' during the latest skirmish but said only a South Korean ship had sustained damage. 

'Perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission!,' the President suggested on Truth Social. 

Tehran's decision to launch these attacks officially resumes hostilities between Iran and the US in the Middle East.

Authorities also announced that a massive fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zones on Monday following a drone attack from Iran. 

A senior US official said that US warships and aircraft protected several commercial vessels from Iranian attacks earlier on Monday. 

Sources said an Iranian drone successfully struck a Marshall Islands-linked oil vessel named the JV Innovation while it was attempting to move through the strait.

US warships responded to the cruise missile fire by sinking six small Iranian boats