Hegseth: Coming Days Will Be 'Decisive' in Iran War; US Hit 11,000 Targets in 30 Days

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran that the coming days will be "decisive" in the war, speaking at a joint Pentagon press conference Tuesday with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Hegseth said President Trump prefers reaching a deal with Iran, noting that "talks have been ongoing and accelerating," but warned the US is prepared to continue fighting if Iran does not cooperate. He said: "We have many options, they do not have many. In just one month, we have shaped the situation and the coming days will be decisive." Hegseth also noted he visited US forces deployed in the Middle East last Saturday. He added that Iran "militarily cannot do much" and that "they know it themselves." Hegseth again criticized Washington's allies for insufficient support, saying the Strait of Hormuz crisis "goes beyond American interests" and other countries also bear responsibility. He said NATO members failed to provide even the small assistance requested: "We only asked for small contributions, but they were not delivered, and it can no longer be called a coalition." He called the current war against the Islamic Republic "an operation for the world," referencing global energy market tensions: "The Strait of Hormuz is not just America's issue — other countries must also defend themselves." Hegseth rejected any fixed deadline for ending the military campaign, saying "there is no question of four or six weeks or any other timeframe" and that operations will continue until Washington's objectives are met. He described talks with Tehran as "ongoing" and said: "Negotiations with Iran are serious and we welcome them — but we are also negotiating with bombs so they know a deal is better for them." Gen. Dan Caine said: "On the ground, in the air, at sea, and in cyberspace, we are destroying the Islamic Republic's missile and drone production, and we are striking deep inside Iran with long-range fires." He stated that the US military has struck 11,000 targets in the past 30 days and that B-52 bombers are currently conducting missions over Iran.