Hegseth Vows ‘Negotiate With Bombs’ as U.S. Pressures Iran to End Missile and Nuclear Programs

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Tuesday that U.S. military strikes inside Iran will persist until Tehran agrees to halt its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. “We’ll negotiate with bombs,” Hegseth said bluntly, framing the air campaign as leverage to force Iran into a diplomatic settlement. Despite Iranian officials denying any talks, Hegseth insisted negotiations are “very real” and intensifying alongside the bombing campaign. During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth claimed Iran’s defense industrial base is “nearly completely destroyed,” with U.S. warplanes now operating freely over Iranian airspace to destroy mobile missile and drone launchers as they emerge. “Our job is to ensure we compel Iran to realize this new regime is in a better place if they make a deal,” he said. The Pentagon chief recently visited U.S. troops in the Middle East and met with President Trump’s Iran negotiating team—Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Hegseth emphasized that the deployment of thousands of U.S. Marines and 82nd Airborne troops near Iran is also designed to pressure Tehran at the negotiating table. “The point is to be unpredictable,” he said. “Our adversary thinks there are 15 ways we can come at them with boots on the ground—and there are.” U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine, standing beside Hegseth, confirmed that since the bombardment began on Feb. 28, American forces have hit 11,000 targets. In recent days, U.S. warplanes have accelerated strikes on mobile rocket and drone launchers inside Iran. Caine noted that the presence of elite combat units serves as a “pressure point” for Iranian negotiators. “They should carefully consider at the diplomatic level what’s in front of them,” he said. Iran’s recent threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have roiled oil markets, driving up gas prices. Trump weighed in on Truth Social, urging allies to defend shipping lanes themselves and warning nations that refuse to get involved that the U.S. “won’t be there to help you anymore.” Hegseth echoed the sentiment, saying, “If Iran is wise, they will cut a deal. President Trump will make a deal. He is willing.”