Iran still firing missiles, U.S. ground operations remain an option, Hegseth says
WASHINGTON— Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that Iran still maintains the ability to launch offensive missiles a month into the war, even as U.S. and Israeli forces have launched sustained attacks aimed at weakening Tehran’s military capabilities.
“Yes, they will launch some missiles, but we will shoot them down,” Hegseth told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon.
The admission underscores that despite weeks of intense US operations targeting Iran’s missile infrastructure, the threat has not been completely eliminated and remains a factor in the military operation.
The U.S. military is focused on “interdiction and destruction” of warehouses and construction facilities that provide missiles, drones and warships to Iranian forces, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine told reporters at the briefing.
As the campaign continued, thousands of American troops began arriving in the Middle East as President Trump weighed the next steps in the conflict and also signaled that he was open to a diplomatic solution with Iran.
Hegseth said these diplomatic talks were “very real” but emphasized that military pressure will continue alongside these talks and that ground operations remain an option.
“Our enemy right now thinks there are 15 different ways we can attack them with boots on the ground. And guess what? There are,” Hegseth said. “If necessary, we can exercise these options on behalf of the President of the United States and this department, or perhaps we will not have to exercise them at all. Maybe negotiations will work.”
He said the goal remains “unpredictable.” Caine added that the presence of US ground forces in the region could serve as a “pressure point” as diplomatic efforts continue.
As U.S. military officials weigh their options on the ground, Trump administration officials have faced challenges in gaining support from some U.S. allies; This is an issue that Hegseth and President Trump have publicly acknowledged.
Earlier Tuesday, Trump complained that countries were “refusing to engage” in the war and that Iran’s efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil route it closed during the conflict, were disrupting global energy markets.
“You will have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the United States will no longer be there to help you, just like you are not there for us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Most of Iran has been destroyed. The hard part is done. Go buy your own oil!”
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump singled out France for banning Israeli military aircraft from flying over its airspace.
“USA WILL REMEMBER!!!” Trump shared a post on Truth Social.
on tuesday, The Italian and British governments reportedly They restricted the USA. They prevented warplanes from landing on their military bases.
At the Pentagon, Hegseth acknowledged that the U.S. military has encountered “roadblocks or hesitation” from U.S. allies when asking for help or using their bases, and said the president had simply stated that “we don’t have much of an alliance.”
“The world has been shown a lot about what our allies will be willing to do for the United States when we engage in an effort of this scope on behalf of the free world,” Hegseth said.
