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After 40 days of war, the United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, a development that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed as a decisive American victory. Speaking at the Pentagon's first press briefing since President Donald Trump announced the pause on Tuesday night, Hegseth said Iran had "begged" for the ceasefire, according to multiple outlets.

"Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it," Hegseth said, as reported by The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post. He added that Operation Epic Fury had "decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come."

The ceasefire, which temporarily halts hostilities that began on 28 February, was confirmed by Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who accepted the terms shortly after Trump's announcement. Iran's supreme national security council said it would send a delegation to Islamabad for formal talks beginning Friday.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the ceasefire reflects divergent emphases. The Guardian's report focuses on the human cost and the uncertain future of the conflict, noting that total deaths across the region exceed 5,000, including over 1,600 Iranian civilians and at least 1,497 people in Lebanon. The Jerusalem Post, meanwhile, highlights US military strength, quoting Hegseth's claims of a "decisive military victory" and the use of "less than 10%" of American capabilities.

Both outlets report Hegseth's assertion that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded and disfigured, a claim that has not been independently verified. The Guardian also provides context on the succession, noting that Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, was killed on the first day of the war, and his son Mojtaba was designated his successor on 8 March — a claim that appears in a single source.

Key Claims

  • US military victory: Hegseth stated that the US had achieved a "decisive military victory against Iran," a claim carried by both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Iranian leadership casualties: Both outlets report that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded and disfigured during the conflict. The Guardian adds that his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of the war.
  • Iran's defense industrial base destroyed: Hegseth said Iran's weapons factories had been "reduced to rubble" and its defense industrial base "completely destroyed," according to multiple reports.
  • Strike numbers and casualties: Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated US forces had struck over 13,000 Iranian targets, a figure reported by the Jerusalem Post. Hegseth mentioned 800 strikes on Tuesday night prior to the ceasefire. The Guardian reports that nearly 900 strikes were launched in the initial 12 hours of the war.
  • Iranian military losses: Caine said Iran lost 80% of its air defense systems, 90% of its weapon factories, and over 90% of its conventional naval forces, per the Jerusalem Post.
  • Strait of Hormuz: Hegseth said Iran will allow ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz and that US forces will ensure Iran abides by the ceasefire's terms, according to the Jerusalem Post.
  • Human and financial cost: The Guardian reports total regional deaths exceed 5,000, with over 1,600 Iranian civilians killed. The US military had spent roughly $12.7 billion by day six, with a $200 billion supplemental request pending before Congress.
  • Unresolved terms: The Guardian notes that the terms of any lasting deal remain "openly contradictory," with Iran's 10-point counter-proposal explicitly demanding the right to enrich uranium.

Perspectives

The ceasefire announcement has been met with contrasting narratives. The Trump administration and US military officials present the pause as a victory, emphasizing Iran's weakened military capabilities and the destruction of its defense infrastructure. Hegseth's language — "Iran begged for this ceasefire" — underscores this framing.

Iran, however, also declared victory. Its supreme national security council announced that "nearly all the objectives of the war have been achieved," according to The Guardian. This dual victory declaration highlights the divergent perceptions of the conflict's outcome.

The human toll and the fragility of the ceasefire are central concerns in The Guardian's reporting, which notes the staggering number of casualties and the unresolved issues that could undermine any lasting agreement. The Jerusalem Post, while highlighting US military achievements, also acknowledges the ceasefire's terms are subject to Iranian compliance, with US forces set to remain in the region to enforce them.