Pentagon outlines "high-alert" status during Iran ceasefire

A global catastrophe appears to have been averted as the United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, halting what President Trump had previously warned would be a "civilization-ending" escalation. The deal, brokered in the final hours before a massive U.S. strike was set to commence, is centered on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Leadership at the Pentagon held a briefing Wednesday morning to outline the military’s posture during the pause. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Dan Caine addressed the strategic shift, emphasizing that while the bombers are grounded for now.