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Iranian missiles don't pose a threat to the US, Pete Hegseth admits
Middle East Eye·🕐 1 sa önce·👁 0 görüntülenme
Iranian missiles don't pose a threat to the US, Pete Hegseth admits MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:59 Despite Iran steering the terms with its economic leverage, the Pentagon chief insists otherwise US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on 31 March 2026 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Off In his first briefing since 19 March, and more than one month into the US-Israeli war on Iran, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth openly conceded that Iranian ballistic missiles do not pose a threat to the US mainland, undercutting talk of the "imminent threat" repeated by the White House. Because of that, he explained, the US has put itself on the line to protect its regional assets and allies against Tehran's capabilities, and that is why the president now expects European allies to step up in return. "These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America. They range allies and others. And yet, when asked for additional assistance... we get questions or roadblocks or hesitations," Hegseth told reporters on Tuesday. "And the president's pointing out [that] you don't have much of an alliance if you have countries not willing to stand with you when you need them," he added. Hegseth is referring to comments made earlier in the day by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account, in which he demanded the UK "build up some courage, go to the Strait [of Hormuz], and just TAKE IT". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself," Trump wrote. In justifying the president's position, Hegseth insisted that since the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran on 28 February, Washington has "set the terms", leaving Iran with "nothing they can militarily do about it". Why ask Europe for help? The question becomes, then, why is Trump asking for assistance from members of Nato if the US has the upper hand? Petrol prices in the US soared past an average of $4 per gallon on Tuesday, further straining Americans for whom alternative transport options do not exist. Lowering those prices was a key component of Trump's campaign, and one that he often chides his predecessor, Joe Biden, for. China and Pakistan issue five-point plan for 'immediate ceasefire' in war on Iran Read More » Tehran is banking on a loss of steam from the US as it blocks the Strait of Hormuz for oil tankers with US and Israeli ties. "The president's been clear to Iran. Open it for business, or we have options, and we certainly do," Hegseth said. At the same time, he refused to disclose those options. "Don't tell your enemy what you're willing to do or not do, and don't tell your enemy when you're willing to stop," he told reporters. When asked about the ongoing "negotiations" professed by Trump but denied in Tehran, the secretary said Iran's "first regime was all destroyed and the second one is mostly dead. The third regime that we're on right now has been much more reasonable in negotiations." That is purely owing to US firepower, Hegseth said. The last 24 hours saw the lowest number of missiles and drones fired by Iran, he said, and US strikes "are damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages, and causing frustrations amongst senior leaders". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But security experts who have been tracking the launches found that Iran has been consistently firing drones and missiles at roughly the same rate that they have been over the past 20 days. In recent days, there has, in fact, been an uptick compared to early March. And Iran also seems to be more precise in its targets. On Tuesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that 18 US corporations in the region will be directly attacked, because they are "institutions involved in terrorist activities" waged by Washington. War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0
In his first briefing since 19 March, and more than one month into the US-Israeli war on Iran, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth openly conceded that Iranian ballistic missiles do not pose a threat to the US mainland, undercutting talk of the "imminent threat" repeated by the White House. Because of that, he explained, the US has put itself on the line to protect its regional assets and allies against Tehran's capabilities, and that is why the president now expects European allies to step up in return. "These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America. They range allies and others. And yet, when asked for additional assistance... we get questions or roadblocks or hesitations," Hegseth told reporters on Tuesday. "And the president's pointing out [that] you don't have much of an alliance if you have countries not willing to stand with you when you need them," he added.Hegseth is referring to comments made earlier in the day by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account, in which he demanded the UK "build up some courage, go to the Strait [of Hormuz], and just TAKE IT". "You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself," Trump wrote. In justifying the president's position, Hegseth insisted that since the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran on 28 February, Washington has "set the terms", leaving Iran with "nothing they can militarily do about it". The question becomes, then, why is Trump asking for assistance from members of Nato if the US has the upper hand?Petrol prices in the US soared past an average of $4 per gallon on Tuesday, further straining Americans for whom alternative transport options do not exist. Lowering those prices was a key component of Trump's campaign, and one that he often chides his predecessor, Joe Biden, for. Tehran is banking on a loss of steam from the US as it blocks the Strait of Hormuz for oil tankers with US and Israeli ties. "The president's been clear to Iran. Open it for business, or we have options, and we certainly do," Hegseth said. At the same time, he refused to disclose those options."Don't tell your enemy what you're willing to do or not do, and don't tell your enemy when you're willing to stop," he told reporters. When asked about the ongoing "negotiations" professed by Trump but denied in Tehran, the secretary said Iran's "first regime was all destroyed and the second one is mostly dead. The third regime that we're on right now has been much more reasonable in negotiations."That is purely owing to US firepower, Hegseth said. The last 24 hours saw the lowest number of missiles and drones fired by Iran, he said, and US strikes "are damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages, and causing frustrations amongst senior leaders". But security experts who have been tracking the launches found that Iran has been consistently firing drones and missiles at roughly the same rate that they have been over the past 20 days. In recent days, there has, in fact, been an uptick compared to early March.And Iran also seems to be more precise in its targets. On Tuesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that 18 US corporations in the region will be directly attacked, because they are "institutions involved in terrorist activities" waged by Washington.
