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31 Mar 2026, 17:12

The U.S. Secretary of Defense says the coming days will be "decisive" in the war with Iran.

Pete Hegseth, speaking at a joint press conference with General Dan Keen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday, April 1, warned Tehran that if it does not reach an agreement with Washington, U.S. [and Israeli] attacks will intensify.

The U.S. Secretary of War also emphasized at the press conference on Tuesday at the Pentagon that Donald Trump prefers to reach an agreement with Iran. He stated that "discussions are ongoing and have gained momentum," warning that if Iran does not cooperate, the U.S. is prepared to continue the war.

Pete Hegseth, who also reported on his visit to U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East last Sunday, said: "We have many options, but they do not have many. In just one month, we have shaped the situation, and the coming days will be decisive."

The Pentagon chief stated that the Iranians know this themselves, saying that "militarily, they cannot do much."

Pete Hegseth again criticized the positions of Washington's allies regarding the war with Iran and emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is an issue beyond U.S. interests, and other countries also have responsibilities regarding it.

On Tuesday, April 1, he addressed the lack of cooperation from NATO member countries to counter the threats from the Iranian regime, saying: "We only requested small assistance [from NATO], but it did not materialize, and it can no longer be called an alliance."

He described the current war against the Islamic Republic as "an operation for the world" and, referring to the existing tensions in the global energy market, added: "The Strait of Hormuz is not just an American issue, and other countries must defend themselves as well."

During the press conference, the U.S. Secretary of War rejected the existence of a deadline for ending the military campaign against the Islamic Republic, stating, "The discussion of four or six weeks or any other timeframe is not on the table," and operations will continue until Washington's goals are met.

Hegseth reported on "ongoing" discussions between Tehran and Washington, adding: "Negotiations with Iran are serious, and we welcome them, but we are negotiating alongside the bomb so they know that an agreement is better for them."

Dan Keen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also stated at the press conference: "We are destroying the production of missiles and drones of the Islamic Republic on land, in the air, at sea, and in cyberspace, and we are targeting the depths of Iranian territory with long-range fire."

According to him, the U.S. military has attacked 11,000 targets in the past 30 days, and B-52 bombers are currently on missions over Iran.

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