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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the upcoming days will be "decisive" in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, as the Pentagon leaves all options on the table amid speculation about potential ground operations in the Islamic Republic. Speaking at a press briefing at the Pentagon alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth warned that if Iran is not willing to make a deal to end the war, U.S. military operations will continue with "even more intensity."

"Just one month in, only one month, we set the terms. The upcoming days will be decisive," Hegseth said, according to Yonhap News Agency. "Iran knows that there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it. Yes, they will still shoot some missiles, but we will shoot them down."

Coverage Comparison

All coverage of this story comes from Yonhap News Agency, which has reported from Washington, D.C., on Hegseth's remarks. The wires service has filed multiple reports tracking the evolving statements from the Pentagon chief. Early reports focused on Hegseth's claim of a "decisive and overwhelming" victory and the plan for Iran to hand over its enriched uranium. Later reports emphasized that the U.S. is not foreclosing any option, including "boots on the ground." The reports consistently attribute all statements directly to Hegseth and other U.S. officials, with no independent verification of the military claims.

Key Claims

  • Claim of "decisive and overwhelming" victory: Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury was a "historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield -- a capital V military victory," according to multiple Yonhap reports. He stated that the operation, launched Feb. 28, decimated Iran's military and rendered it "combat-ineffective for years to come."
  • Iran's enriched uranium to be handed over: Hegseth said Iran will voluntarily hand over its enriched uranium stockpiles to the U.S., or the U.S. will "take it out." He said, "They will give it to us voluntarily. We'll get it. We will take it. We will take it out." He also hinted at a possible military option to secure the uranium, referencing last year's Operation Midnight Hammer.
  • U.S. strikes and damage assessments: In one report, Hegseth claimed the U.S. struck over 13,000 targets, destroyed 80 percent of Iran's air defense systems, sunk over 90 percent of Iran's regular Navy fleet, and destroyed over 95 percent of Iranian naval mines. These figures are presented as U.S. military estimates and have not been independently verified.
  • Troop reinforcements: The Pentagon has sent thousands of additional U.S. troops to the Middle East, according to Yonhap, in what officials describe as an effort to give the president "maximum optionality." Hegseth said the U.S. has "15 different ways" to put boots on the ground in Iran, but did not elaborate.
  • Future U.S. posture: Hegseth stressed that the Trump administration is not ruling out any option. "We are not going to foreclose any option," he said, "You can't fight and win a war ... to tell your adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to do, to include boots on the ground." He also said the U.S. military will be "hanging around" to ensure Iran complies with the ceasefire and comes to the negotiating table.

Perspectives

U.S. Administration Perspective: The Trump administration, through Hegseth, portrays the military operation as a decisive success and emphasizes that Iran has no choice but to comply. The administration insists all options remain available, including ground forces, to enforce the ceasefire and secure uranium.

Iranian Perspective (not directly reported): No direct Iranian response is included in the available coverage. The claims of victory and Iran's voluntary uranium handover are assertions by U.S. officials, and Iran's actual stance remains unclear from these reports.

International/Oil Market Perspective: The reports note concerns about a prolonged war's impact on oil prices and inflation, suggesting that international markets are watching the conflict closely, though no specific market reaction is detailed.

Military/Strategic Perspective: The Pentagon's framing of "maximal optionality" and the mention of "15 different ways" to deploy ground troops indicates a strategy of ambiguity. Analysts might question the feasibility and risks of ground operations, but such analysis is not present in the available reports.

Note: This article is based solely on Yonhap News Agency reports. The claims made by U.S. officials have not been independently verified by other outlets.