Washington (Monitoring Desk): Pete Hegseth, during a press conference, praised the leadership of Donald Trump and termed the operation against Iran a major success.
He stated that President Trump inflicted significant damage on Iran, setting a new precedent and achieving a level of success not previously possible. According to him, Iran’s air force and navy suffered heavy losses, while its nuclear capabilities were also impacted. He further claimed that Iran itself came forward to agree to a ceasefire.
The Defense Secretary added that elements within Iran are now emerging in favor of negotiations, and emphasized that the United States’ primary condition remains that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.
Describing the ceasefire as a positive opportunity, he said it could pave the way for genuine peace and a potential agreement.
Hegseth noted that the United States Department of Defense has fulfilled its role but continues to closely monitor the situation and is prepared to respond to any developments. He clarified that while the conflict has been temporarily paused for two weeks, US forces remain ready to handle any scenario.
Later, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine also addressed a press conference at the Pentagon, briefing on military matters.