Watch Live: Pete Hegseth says “we’ll be hanging around” in Iran despite ceasefire
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday stated “we’ll be hanging around” in Iran after the two-week ceasefirewhereas saying that Iran is aware of “this agreement means that they will never, ever possess a nuclear weapon.”
Hegseth introduced in the beginning of Wednesday’s briefing that the Pentagon’s job is finished in Iran. But he has 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 make sure that Iran complies with the ceasefire.
Wednesday’s briefing got here after Mr. Trump announced late Tuesday that he had agreed to “suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” including that the US has “already met and exceeded all Military objectives.”
President Trump stated early Wednesday that below the settlement, “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 stated 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 US’ army 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 stated.
Hegseth stated “in less than 40 days,” the US “dismantled one of the world’s largest militaries.”
“The world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism proved absolutely incapable of defending itself, its people or its territory,” he stated. “We untied just a fraction of our strength, and Iran suffered a devastating military defeat.”
Hegseth stated “now we have a chance at real peace and a real deal” amid the ceasefire. He stated the Pentagon “for now, you have done its part,” and stands able to “ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term.”
Caine stated “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 stated “we welcome the ongoing ceasefire,” including that “we hope that Iran chooses a lasting peace.”
Amid the ceasefire announcement, oil costs plunged Wednesday, staying properly above pre-war ranges however dropping beneath the $100 a barrel mark, and shares soared in early buying and selling Wednesday.
But at the least three explosions have been heard round Iran’s Lavan Island Oil Refinery, the nation’s state media reported Wednesday, hours after President Trump stated the US and Iran had agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire.
It was not instantly clear whether or not US or Israeli forces had launched new assaults on the island, which sits lower than 10 miles off Iran’s coast in the Persian Gulf, west of the doorway to the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel has additionally agreed to the ceasefire proposal, a White House official instructed CBS News. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace introduced late Tuesday night time that whereas Israel helps the United States’ two-week ceasefire with Iran, the settlement would not cowl the preventing between Israel’s army and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Iranian proxy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran had agreed to halt “defensive operations,” seemingly referring to its drone and missile strikes on US allies in the area, if the US stops attacking Iran. Araghchi additionally stated Iran’s armed forces will coordinate to permit for “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”
A maritime monitoring service stated Wednesday that vessel motion was resuming in the Strait of Hormuz, with two ships transferring by means of the very important waterway.
“Early signs of vessel activity are emerging in the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire,” MarineTraffic said on X.
“Initial movements are now being recorded,” he stated. “The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the Strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited earlier at 06:59 UTC, shortly after departing Bandar Abbas at 05:28 UTC.”