The U.S. Secretary of Defense says the next few days will be βdecisiveβ in the war with Iran.
Pete Hegseth, speaking on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at a joint press conference with Gen. Dan Keen, warned Tehran that if it does not reach an agreement with Washington, U.S. (and Israeli) attacks will intensify.
Hegseth emphasized that President Donald Trump prefers reaching a deal with Iran. He said:
βDiscussions are ongoing and gaining momentum,β
and warned that if Iran does not cooperate, the U.S. is prepared to continue the war.
Hegseth, who also mentioned his recent visit to U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East last Saturday, said:
βWe have many options, but they have few. In just one month, we have set the position, and the coming days will be decisive.β
The Pentagon chief added:
βThe Iranians themselves know this. Militarily, thereβs nothing significant they can do.β
Hegseth also criticized U.S. allies for their stance on the war with Iran, saying the Strait of Hormuz crisis goes beyond American interests and that other countries also have responsibilities.
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at a press conference, he criticized NATO countries for not cooperating against Iranβs threats, saying:
βWe only asked for a small amount of help [from NATO], but it didnβt materialize, and it can no longer be called a coalition.β
He called the current war against the Islamic Republic an βoperation for the worldβ, noting tensions in the global energy market:
βThe Strait of Hormuz is not just an American issue; other countries must defend themselves as well.β
The U.S. Secretary of Defense rejected any deadlines for ending military operations against Iran, saying:
βThere is no discussion of four, six, or any other set timeframeβthe operation will continue until U.S. objectives are met.β
He added that talks with Tehran are ongoing and serious, but:
βWe negotiate with Iran while also bombing them, so they understand that a deal is better for them.β
Gen. Dan Keen also said:
βOn land, in the air, at sea, and in cyberspace, we are destroying Iranβs missile and drone production, and with long-range fire, we are targeting deep inside Iran.β
According to him, the U.S. military has struck 11,000 targets in the past 30 days, and B-52 bombers are conducting missions over Iran.