The U.S. military's role in Iran is to "ensure that we compel" the current regime to realize it "is in a better place if they make that deal" to end the conflict, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday.
Speaking alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan "Raizin" Caine during a morning press briefing shown live on Newsmax, Hegseth outlined a strategy rooted in President Donald Trump's "peace through strength" doctrine, emphasizing overwhelming military pressure paired with a clear path to negotiations.
"Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime, this regime in charge, is in a better place if they make that deal," Hegseth said, adding that while diplomacy remains the preferred outcome, "in the meantime, we'll negotiate with bombs."
Hegseth described recent visits with U.S. troops participating in "Operation Epic Fury," praising what he called the "American warrior unleashed" and highlighting the urgency among service members to "finish the mission."
He said troops across all branches are conducting high-tempo operations, striking targets deep inside Iran while defending against incoming missiles and drones.
According to Caine, U.S. forces have struck more than 11,000 targets over the past month, significantly degrading Iran's missile, drone, and naval capabilities.
The campaign has also crippled Iran's defense industrial base, limiting its ability to rebuild.
"We continue to systematically degrade and destroy Iran's ability to project power," Caine said, noting operations span air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace.
Hegseth said the results are already evident, with intelligence showing declining morale among Iranian forces, increasing desertions, and a sharp drop in missile and drone launches.
He also pointed to the destruction of key command bunkers and weapons facilities, including recent strikes highlighted by Trump.
"American firepower is only increasing. Iran's is decreasing," Hegseth said, crediting Trump with taking decisive action where past administrations hesitated.
The secretary also reinforced Trump's stance that Iran will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, calling it a central objective of the operation.
At the same time, Hegseth signaled that the burden of maintaining global security — including safeguarding critical waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz — should not fall solely on the United States.
"The world ought to be prepared to step up," he said, echoing Trump's call for allies to contribute more to collective defense.
While declining to outline a specific timeline, Hegseth made clear that all military options remain on the table, including potential escalation if Iran refuses to negotiate.
"We're not going to foreclose any option," he said, stressing the importance of maintaining strategic unpredictability.
Despite concerns about prolonged conflict, Hegseth expressed confidence that the administration's approach is working, saying the U.S. is "closer than ever before to winning."
"This is about history. This is about legacy," he said. "Success matters."
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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