WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reveals during a Pentagon briefing that he visited troops in the Middle East on Saturday to witness the military operation against Iran.
He touts the successes of Operation Epic Fury.
“The last 24 hours saw the lowest number of enemy missiles and drones fired by Iran,” he says.
Echoing US President Donald Trump, Hegseth claims that regime change has effectively been completed Iran, thanks to the US-Israeli strikes to decapitate its leadership.
“This new regime, because regime change has occurred, should be wiser than the last,” he says. “President Trump will make a deal. He is willing, and the terms of the deal are known to them.”
“If Iran is not willing, then the United States War Department will continue with even more intensity,” he adds.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
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