U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned the next few days will be decisive, saying the United States would escalate strikes if Iran refuses to reach an agreement.
At a Pentagon briefing on a possible war with Iran on the 31st (local time), Hegseth said, "Iran also knows it has little it can do militarily." He spoke alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Keane.
Hegseth declined to provide a firm timeline for the campaign — which he had earlier estimated at four to six weeks — saying it "could be four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, or some other number."
On the prospect of committing U.S. ground forces, Hegseth said the option has not been ruled out. "We could execute that option if necessary," he said, "or it may not be needed at all."
