Pete Hegseth weighs in on attack dolphin controversy in bizarre Iran war twist: ‘Can’t confirm nor deny’

In the Trump administration, it’s difficult to know what’s real and what’s fake, and in a moment of surreal levity during an otherwise tense maritime update, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine laughed off reports that Tehran might be weaponizing marine mammals to break the current naval blockade in the Middle East.

The exchange, which took place during a Tuesday morning Pentagon briefing, highlighted the “absurdist” nature of the ongoing conflict. When asked about a recent Wall Street Journal report suggesting Iran was revisiting Cold War-style “kamikaze dolphin” programs to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth offered a dry, tongue-in-cheek response.

“I can’t confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins, but I can confirm they don’t,” Hegseth told reporters, drawing audible laughter from the press corps.

Gen. Caine added a pop-culture jab to the skepticism. “You mean like sharks with laser beams?” Caine asked, a nod to the 1997 spy spoof Austin Powers.

The reality of “absurdist warfare”

While the imagery of explosive-laden dolphins may seem cinematic, it’s grounded in historical programs. During the 20th century, both Washington and Moscow invested heavily in marine mammal training for mine detection and recovery. Iran’s current interest reportedly stems from a batch of Soviet-trained dolphins acquired in 2000, according to the BBC.

However, defense analysts suggest these reports are surfacing now because Tehran is desperate. Faced with the crippling Operation Epic Fury blockade—which has effectively halted Iranian crude exports—the regime is looking for asymmetric ways to signal that no vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is safe.

A ceasefire on life support

The levity at the Pentagon podium stands in stark contrast to the deteriorating security situation in the Gulf. Despite a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire that began in early April, the truce is currently “on thin ice.”

Just yesterday, May 4, a barrage of Iranian-linked drones and missiles targeted the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone in the UAE. The strikes caused significant damage to storage facilities and wounded three foreign nationals, marking a blatant violation of the agreement.

President Trump, who extended the truce in late April at the request of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has since labeled the arrangement “shaky,” stating on social media that Tehran has “not yet paid a big enough price” for its provocations.

Strategic Deadlock in the Strait

Under the current U.S. “Red, White, and Blue Dome” maritime strategy, the Navy is providing armed escorts for commercial tankers under Project Freedom. This mission aims to bypass the “dual blockade” that has paralyzed 25% of global oil traffic.

Iran recently submitted a 14-point peace proposal through Pakistani channels, but the White House has largely dismissed it, viewing the demand for a total naval withdrawal as a non-starter.