Pete Hegseth says “upcoming days will be decisive” in war against Iran
Washington — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a news conference Tuesday that “the next few days will be decisive” in the conflict. war with Iran.
“Iran knows this, and there is almost nothing it can do militarily about it,” Hegseth said.
The defense secretary said America’s “firepower is only increasing,” while asserting that Iran’s firepower is “decreasing.”
“In just one month – just one month – we set the conditions,” Hegseth said.
President Trump told CBS News’ Weijia Jiang Tuesday morning that he is not yet ready to abandon an attempt to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Trump reiterated his frustration that other countries had not sent military assets to join the US-Israeli war against Iran, saying “countries have to step in and deal with it.”
In a social media post on Tuesday, Mr. Trump called on other countries, such as the United Kingdom, to “go get their own oil” by take control of the Strait of Hormuz.
“I have a suggestion for you: number 1, buy from the United States, we have plenty, and number 2, gather some courage, go across the strait and TAKE IT. You will have to start learning to fight for yourself, the United States will no longer be there to help you, just like you weren’t there for us,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth said the president had been “clear to Iran: ‘open it for business or we have options,’ and we certainly will.”
Hegseth echoed the president’s message on Truth Social earlier Tuesday, saying “there are countries around the world that should also be prepared to step up their efforts on this critical waterway.”
More broadly, Hegseth said that “if Iran is wise, it will make a deal.” He said the president was ready to make a deal and the Iranians knew the terms of that deal. Otherwise, Hegseth said the United States “will continue with even greater intensity.”
In the middle of criticism from some Democrats As for whether there would be negotiations with Iran, Hegseth said the negotiations were “very real.” He called the talks “active and, I think, getting stronger.”
“We would much prefer to reach an agreement. If Iran was willing to give up the hardware it has and its ambitions, opening the strait, that is its goal,” Hegseth said. “We don’t want to do more militarily than necessary. But I didn’t mean it casually when I said that in the meantime we would negotiate with bombs.”
The defense secretary said “the main effort is to reach an agreement.”
Caine said “our joint force continues to focus on our military objectives as we continue to systematically degrade and destroy Iran’s ability to project power and threaten stability beyond its borders.” He reiterated that the United States remains focused on destroying Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aircraft systems capabilities, as well as the supply chains for those programs.
The briefing took place a few hours after a Iranian drone hits Kuwaiti tanker off Dubaian attack on energy targets like The average price of gas in the United States has increased more than $4 per gallon.
“The giant Kuwaiti oil tanker was subjected to a direct and malicious Iranian attack while in the anchorage area of the port of Dubai, United Arab Emirates,” the official KUNA news agency reported, citing Kuwait’s state-owned oil company. Kuwaiti Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Al-Salmi was targeted, according to state media.
Gas prices in the United States continued to climb this week, with the average gallon price surpassing $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2022. Gas prices have jumped since the first time in the United States and Israel. attacked Iran on February 28jumping more than a dollar per gallon over the past month, according to AAA data.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Tuesday that “gasoline prices will fall to the multi-year lows enjoyed by American drivers before these near-term disruptions” when the war in Iran ends. Leavitt added that Mr. Trump is “determined to fully unleash American energy dominance.”
Mr. Trump on Monday renewed his calls to attack Iran’s civilian energy and water infrastructure if no deal is reached to end the war.
Separately, US Central Command said Tuesday morning that Commander Adm. Brad Cooper met with Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in Israel on Sunday and Monday.
“The two leaders discussed progress made during ongoing operations aimed at eliminating Iran’s ability to significantly project power outside its borders,” the CENTCOM statement said. “They also reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Israeli defense partnership and emphasized the importance of continued coordination. Before leaving the region, Cooper visited U.S. troops deployed in several locations in support of Operation Epic Fury.”
