Watch Live: Pete Hegseth says “coming days will be crucial” in war against Iran
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, announced at a press conference on Tuesday “the coming days will be decisive” fight against Iran.
“Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can do militarily about it,” Hegseth said.
The Secretary of Defense said that “America’s firepower is increasing,” while saying that Iran is “declining.”
“In just one month – just one month – we set goals,” Hegseth said.
President Trump told CBS News’ Weijia Jiang on Tuesday morning that he is not “one bit” ready to give up on a bid to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Trump reiterated his frustration that other countries did not send military equipment to join the US-Israel war with Iran, saying “countries should step in and take care of it.”
Hegseth said “if Iran is smart, it will cut the deal.” He said the president is willing to make a deal, and the terms of the deal are known to the Iranian people. If not, Hegseth said the US will “proceed with great force.”
Caine said “our joint forces continue to focus on our military objectives as we continue to systematically degrade and destroy Iran’s ability to generate energy and threaten stability beyond its borders.”
Caine reiterated that the US remains focused on destroying Iran’s missile and Unmanned Aircraft Systems capabilities, as well as the systems’ supply chains.
Hegseth began the forum by describing his weekend visit with soldiers assigned to Operation Epic Fury, calling the trip “an honor.”
The forum arrived a few hours later An Iranian drone shot down a Kuwaiti oil tanker from Dubaiattacks on power targets such as the average price of gasoline in the US has increased over $4 a gallon.
“A large Kuwaiti crude oil tanker was directly attacked by Iranians while it was in the anchorage of Dubai Port in the UAE,” KUNA media reported, citing Kuwait’s state-owned oil company. The Kuwaiti Very Large Crude Oil Carrier (VLCC) Al-Salmi was the target, according to state media.
In a statement posted on social media early Tuesday, Mr. Trump urged other countries, such as the United Kingdom, to “go get your own oil” by controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
“I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy in the US, we have a lot, and Number 2, build up the delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You will have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA will no longer be there to help you, just as you were not with us,” wrote Mr. Trump.
Gasoline prices in the US continued to rise this week, with the average price of a liter reaching $4 a liter for the first time since August 2022. Gasoline prices rose from the US and Israel first invaded Iran on February 28jumping more than a dollar per liter in the past month, data from AAA showed. CBS News has reached out to the White House for comment on fuel prices.
Mr. Trump on Monday renewed his calls to attack Iran’s energy and water infrastructure if no deal is reached to end the war.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command said that early Tuesday Commander Adm. Brad Cooper met with the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in Israel on Sunday and Monday.
“The two leaders discussed the progress made during the ongoing activities to eliminate Iran’s ability to produce energy by reasonable means outside its borders,” the CENTCOM statement said. “They reaffirmed the strength of the US-Israeli defense relationship and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation. Before leaving the region, Cooper visited with US troops deployed in multiple locations in support of Operation Epic Fury.”
