By Ginika Igboke
Iran launched the lowest number of missiles and drones in a single day since the conflict began a month ago, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday, signaling a possible shift in the pace of hostilities as U.S. military pressure intensifies.
Speaking at a Pentagon news conference alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Secretary Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth said the past 24 hours marked a notable decline in Iranian attacks.
“The last 24 hours saw the lowest number of enemy missiles and drones fired by Iran,” he said, adding that U.S. forces conducted approximately 200 strikes overnight from Monday into Tuesday and destroyed another Iranian command bunker.
Hegseth emphasized that the coming days will be critical for Iran, urging its leadership to accept a deal with the United States as military pressure continues to mount.
“Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it,” he said. “U.S. firepower is only increasing.”
While stressing that Washington prefers not to escalate further than necessary, Hegseth made clear that military operations will continue alongside diplomatic efforts.
“We don’t want to do more militarily than we have to—but in the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs,” he said. “Our job is to ensure that Iran understands it is in a better position if it agrees to a deal.”
His comments refer to ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to engage Tehran, which President Donald Trump has said are progressing. Iranian officials, however, have denied that direct negotiations are taking place.
Earlier in the week, Trump warned that the United States could target Iran’s energy infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Despite the warning, the president indicated that talks are advancing.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that view in recent remarks, suggesting that divisions have emerged within Iran’s leadership as a result of sustained military pressure.
Hegseth described the negotiations as active and gaining momentum, though he declined to provide further details.
“They are very real, they are ongoing, they are active and, I think, gaining strength,” he said.
The conflict has had significant global economic repercussions. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have driven oil prices higher, pushing U.S. gasoline prices above $4 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA)—an increase of about $1 since the conflict began.
Meanwhile, regional tensions remain high. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that an Iranian drone attack set fire to the Kuwait-flagged vessel Al-Salmi near Dubai. The fire was brought under control, with no injuries or oil spill reported, though the ship sustained damage to its hull, according to Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
In a separate statement, Trump urged countries facing jet fuel shortages to take greater responsibility for securing energy supplies, including protecting shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz or purchasing fuel from the United States.
He called on those nations to strengthen their own capabilities, suggesting the United States may not continue providing the same level of support.
The conflict began on Feb. 28, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iran, killing several high-ranking officials, including the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, fighting has continued across multiple fronts, with both sides signaling a mix of military escalation and tentative diplomatic outreach.
Original article
Comments