Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said “we’ll be hanging around” after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran, while saying that Iran knows “this agreement means that they will never, ever possess a nuclear weapon.”
Hegseth announced at the start of Wednesday’s briefing that the Pentagon’s job is done in Iran. But he clarified that “we’re not going anywhere” and “our troops are prepared to defend, prepared to go on offense, prepared to restart at a moment’s notice” to ensure that Iran complies with the ceasefire.
Wednesday’s briefing came after President Trump announced late Tuesday that he had agreed to “suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” adding that the U.S. has “already met and exceeded all Military objectives.”
Mr. Trump said early Wednesday that under the agreement, “there will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust.’”
Hegseth said at the briefing that “it takes time sometimes for a ceasefire to take hold.” He added that “we’re watching it, we’re prepared if necessary, but we hope and believe that it will hold.”
Hegseth said as he opened the briefing that “Iran has been a threat to the United States and the free world for 47 years.”
“No longer, not on our watch,” he added.
Hegseth echoed the president’s message, touting a “big day for world peace.” And he praised the U.S.’ military operation as a “historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield.”
“By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran’s military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come,” he said.
Hegseth said “in less than 40 days,” the U.S. “dismantled one of the world’s largest militaries.”
“The world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism proved utterly incapable of defending itself, its people or its territory,” he said. “We untied just a fraction of our strength, and Iran suffered a devastating military defeat.”
Hegseth said “now we have a chance at real peace and a real deal” amid the ceasefire. He said the Pentagon “for now, has done its part,” and stands ready to “ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term.”
Caine said “over the course of 38 days of major combat operation, the Joint Force achieved the military objectives as defined by the president.” The joint chiefs chairman said “we welcome the ongoing ceasefire,” adding that “we hope that Iran chooses a lasting peace.”
The ceasefire announcement came after Mr. Trump said early Tuesday morning that a “whole civilization will die” if Iran didn’t agree to a deal.
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