"U.S. Notified Iran in Advance of Project Freedom Launch to Avoid Escalation"

by Lee Hyunwoo

Published 06 May.2026 07:58(KST)

U.S. Secretary of Defense: "Communicating with Iran Privately"

Reuters Yonhap News

Axios reported on the 5th (local time), citing a senior official, that the U.S. government notified Iran in advance prior to the launch of "Project Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz.

Axios stated, "The United States first informed Iran about the operation and warned them on the 3rd not to interfere," adding that "such an unofficial message suggests the White House aimed to mitigate the risk of a potential escalation." However, Axios also noted, "Some suggest that if the current diplomatic stalemate continues, an order to resume the war could be issued later this week."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said at a press conference on the 5th, "The United States is communicating with Iran both publicly and privately." He added, "This operation (Project Freedom) is separate and independent from ongoing military operations in the region. By nature, it is defensive, focused in scope, and temporary in duration," emphasizing, "The ceasefire has not ended. President Trump does not need Congressional approval to continue the war."

Iran, for its part, has also shown a desire to avoid provoking the United States, denying the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government's allegations of an Iranian attack on the Fujairah chemical complex the previous day. According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the Iranian military's central command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated on the 5th, "In recent days, the Iranian military has not carried out any missile or drone operations targeting the UAE," claiming, "The UAE Ministry of Defense's statement is completely false."

The UAE government previously announced that it had intercepted 19 missiles and drones launched from Iran the previous day, during which a fire broke out at the Fujairah chemical complex.