US defence chief: Washington not looking for conflict with Iran

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that Washington is not seeking a conflict with Iran despite rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

During a briefing at the Pentagon, he said the United States aims to protect shipping from what he described as Iranian aggression, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iran International.

"We’re not looking for a fight," he noted.

Hegseth made it clear that Iran "has been harassing ships for too long", but does not control the strategic waterway.

He added that the United States would not need to enter Iranian airspace or territorial waters to reopen the strait, noting that hundreds of vessels are already queued to pass through the route.

Hegseth also said that US efforts to ensure maritime security, dubbed Operation Project Freedom, are temporary in nature and separate from broader military operations.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov