Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that he and President Donald Trump are willing to go as far as we need to go to dismantle Irans theocratic regime, explicitly leaving open the possibility of deploying American troops into Iran if circumstances demand it.
Speaking on Sunday night, Hegseth underscored the administrations determination to retain every military option. According to Mediaite, he stated, We reserve the right. We would be completely unwise if we did not reserve the right to take any particular option, whether it included boots on the ground or no boots on the ground.
That assertion followed his assurance to host Major Garrett that the United States currently has no overt or covert forces operating inside Iran. Yet Hegseth, with a knowing smirk, quickly added a pointed caveat: Uh, I wouldnt tell you that if we did.
Hegseth noted that the press has been pressing the Pentagon and the White House for specifics on the duration and scope of Operation Epic Fury. He argued that it would be strategically reckless to reveal operational timelines or red lines in public, stressing that the missions ultimate objective is to make sure their nuclear ambitions are eliminated.
People ask Boots on the ground, no boots on the ground? Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks? Go in, go in. President Trump knows I know you dont tell the enemy, you dont tell the press, you dont tell anybody what your limits would be on an operation, Hegseth said. He added bluntly, Were willing to go as far as we need to in order to be successful.
Later in the interview, Garrett noted that a seventh U.S. service member had died Sunday from wounds suffered in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Hegseth insisted those sacrifices carry profound meaning and are tied to a larger, necessary struggle.
Things like this dont happen without casualties. There will be more casualties especially our generation knows what its like to see Americans come home in caskets, Hegseth said. But that doesnt weaken us one bit. It stiffens our spine and our resolve to say this is a fight we will finish.
He also confirmed that the U.S. military is still investigating whether American or Iranian forces were responsible for a strike that killed roughly 160 people at a school. As the administration keeps its plans close to the vest, the message from Hegseth was unmistakable: the United States, under President Trumps leadership, intends to confront Irans regime and its nuclear ambitions with maximum resolve and without self-imposed limits.
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