US wants deal with Iran but will step up attacks if talks fail: Hegseth

WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States is prioritizing a deal to end the war with Iran, even as military operations increase and President Donald Trump continues to threaten further strikes.

“Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime is in a better place if they make that deal,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing. “The primary effort is a deal. We want that deal to be accomplished, if at all possible — if not, then we’re prepared to continue.”

Hegseth added that a “regime change has occurred” in Iran and suggested that its new leadership understands U.S. terms. He warned that if Tehran does not comply, the military campaign “will continue with even more intensity.”

He also mentioned a recent visit to U.S. Central Command, without specifying which bases he visited, and praised the troops who had just returned from missions over Iran.

Hegseth said recent U.S. strikes are weakening Iran’s military, noting a drop in missile and drone launches and intelligence showing lower morale among Iranian forces. He added that U.S. forces have carried out thousands of strikes in recent weeks, including real-time “dynamic” targeting of mobile threats.

“I asked each young American, what do you need?” Hegseth said. “And nobody said better equipment, nobody said more comfortable living conditions, nobody said, ‘Send me home.’”

Instead, service members urged leadership to continue the mission. “Let’s finish the mission. Get us even more bombs, bigger bombs, more targets. Let us finish this,” he said.

Hegseth emphasized that any decision on when U.S. objectives are complete — and when to finalize a deal — will ultimately be up to Trump, based on what he believes is in the interest of the American people.

Trump has recently sent a dual message, showing optimism about diplomacy while increasing his rhetoric about military action.