According to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, on April 8, U.S. top military commander General Dan Caine issued a stern warning, emphasizing that although the United States and Iran are currently in a ceasefire phase, U.S. military deployments in the Persian Gulf and around Iran have not been reduced. Caine stated that U.S. forces remain at the highest state of readiness and are prepared to resume combat operations at any time in response to any violations of the agreement or acts of provocation.
Caine pointed out that the current ceasefire is based on diplomatic mediation led by President Donald Trump, but it is contingent on Iran stopping all hostile activities in the Strait of Hormuz.
He emphasized: “We welcome the ongoing ceasefire, and as the secretary said, we hope that Iran chooses a lasting peace. But as Secretary Hegseth said, let us be clear, a ceasefire is a pause and the joint force remains ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we’ve demonstrated over the last 38 days — and we hope that is not the case.”
Caine detailed what he described as U.S. tactical victories, including the destruction of about 80 percent of Iran’s air defense systems, strikes on 90 percent of its weapons factories, and the sinking of roughly 90 percent of its regular naval fleet.
Military analysts believe Caine’s remarks are intended to exert continued psychological pressure on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Earlier intelligence indicated that despite publicly committing to a ceasefire, Iran was still secretly obtaining drone components through procurement networks in the Hong Kong and mainland China region and attempting to redeploy radar systems around destroyed air defense sites.
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Caine warned that the U.S. military is using advanced reconnaissance capabilities, including F-35A aircraft, for 24-hour surveillance, stating that “any unusual military movements will face devastating preemptive strikes.”
Disputes over Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved
Meanwhile, disputes over navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved. Iran’s proposed “transit fee bill,” although delayed due to wartime pressure, has not been abolished. Caine reiterated the Pentagon’s position that the Strait of Hormuz is international waters, and any attempt to establish “maritime toll stations” would be considered an act of war. He said the U.S. military presence is meant to ensure the absolute openness of a route responsible for 20 percent of global oil supply, and there is no room for negotiation on this point.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, Saudi Arabia’s critical east–west oil pipeline was still attacked by Iran. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones in the past few hours, while Kuwait reported that multiple facilities were struck by Iranian drones.
On the diplomatic front, the warning also aligns with the White House’s stance toward NATO allies and regional partners. The Trump administration previously criticized NATO for being slow to support operations, and Caine’s strong remarks further assert U.S. independent operational leadership in the region. Currently, the international community is closely watching whether the ceasefire agreement can evolve into a long-term peace framework, but Caine’s comments serve as a reminder that the window for peace is extremely narrow and that military options remain on the White House table.
The United States has more than 50,000 troops stationed in the Middle East and has been increasing its forces. U.S. officials told Reuters that the deployment of several thousand Marines from San Diego to the region is still ongoing.
