U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Project Freedom is a temporary, defensive operation to protect commercial vessels in Strait of Hormuz.
He emphasized U.S. forces will not enter Iranian waters or airspace and are not seeking a fight.
President Donald Trump launched Project Freedom on Monday after Iran closed the strait following U.S.-Israel conflict on Feb 28.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Gulf on Tuesday as both vied for control of the waterway.