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Hegseth says next few days in Iran war will be decisive

AL-Monitor
Mar 31, 2026
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing held with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine (not pictured), amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 31, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing held with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine (not pictured), amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 31, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst — Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - The next few days in the Middle East conflict will be decisive, U.S. DefenseSecretary Pete Hegseth told a briefing on Tuesday, saying there had been major desertions from the Iranian armed forces.

"We have more and more options, and they have less ... in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive," Hegseth said. "Iran knows that, and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it."

Hegseth, citing intelligence, said the strikes were damaging the morale of the Iranian military. This, he said, was triggering widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustration amongst senior leaders.

Hegseth also said he had visited troops in the Middle East on Saturday to witness the military operation against Iran.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, writing by David Ljunggren, editing by Michelle Nichols)