Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's extended 60 Minutes interview
In a Nutshell
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserts the US is decisively fighting Iran to achieve unconditional surrender by rendering their forces combat-ineffective, obliterating their nuclear program, missile/drone capabilities, and naval power, while mitigating risks from Russian intelligence shared with Iran through superior US awareness and Trump's direct leadership. He dismisses "America First" criticisms, emphasizes clear objectives unlike past presidents' failures in Iraq/Afghanistan, confirms no regime change via mass invasion but protection for potential post-war Iranian leaders, and prepares for casualties while bolstering faith, munitions, and resolve. Mission progress is on track per CENTCOM, with overwhelming US-Israeli air dominance ensuring victory without oil shocks or limits on options like boots on the ground.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
CBS News has three sources telling us that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran on US positions and movements. We're tracking everything. Commanders are aware of everything. We have the best intelligence in the world. We're aware of who's talking to whom, why, how accurate the information might be, and factor that into battle plans with CENTCOM commander. The president has an incredible knack for mitigating those risks. American people can rest assured their commander-in-chief is well aware, and anything that shouldn't be happening, whether public or backchannel, is being confronted strongly. Expect conversations with the Russians to stop this. President Trump has a unique relationship with world leaders, getting things done that others, including Joe Biden, never could, through direct or indirect one-to-one conversations or cabinet messages.
Does this put US personnel in more danger? No one's putting us in danger; we're putting the other guys in danger. That's our job. We mitigate as needed. Commanders factor it all in, but the only ones who need to worry are Iranians who think they're going to live.
President said there will be no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender. That means fighting to win and setting the terms. We'll know it's real when they're not capable of fighting, combat ineffective, with no choice but to surrender. Surrender can happen in different ways, whether they admit it or pride allows them to say it aloud. President Trump sets the terms. Combat ineffective. Fighting to win. He sets clear objectives. Some are confused about limited American will, capabilities, or munitions; they're wrong, and Iranians miscalculate American will, authorities, capabilities, and munitions. We've just begun to fight and surge. Iranians will realize how deep President Trump's will is.
Iran-Iraq war lasted almost eight years without surrender. That factors into calculus, but unlike foolish approaches in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is war to bring enemy to knees. Whether they have a ceremony in Tehran to surrender is up to them, but their ability to fight, project power, shoot missiles, confront us, or shut down shipping decides the terms. President Trump made that clear.
Speaker Mike Johnson said US is not at war right now. Lawyers debate these things; we have great lawyers ensuring it's buttoned up. Changed name from Department of Defense to Department of War not to seek war but for peace—creating a world to live more peacefully. If war is necessary, call it war, conflict, campaign, operation, or contingency; we're going to fight to win, different from Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush. Bush sent hundreds of thousands of troops with nebulous end state, dissolved security forces, unleashed insurgency costing thousands of lives and trillions of dollars over a decade. President Trump leads with clarity, America first objectives protecting people and interests, gives military everything needed, sets terms, decides when mission achieved, brings folks home.
Speaker said mission nearly accomplished by all estimates. We're on track, on plan; was at CENTCOM yesterday. Not flying mission accomplished banner like George W. Bush on aircraft carrier. This is not a fair fight on purpose. US and Israeli Defense Forces air forces are the two most powerful in the world. Ability to hunt with conventional munitions—500 lb, 1,000 lb, 2,000 lb gravity bombs on military targets—hasn't really begun, showcasing execution on objectives. Speaker explains overwhelming advantage, which we have; we'll decide when objectives met.
Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Marjorie Taylor Greene say this isn't America first. In the room every day, see President Trump putting America, Americans, American interests first. How long should bases tolerate thousands of short-range ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones? After 47 years of Americans targeted and killed—men served with in Iraq coming home without arms or legs from Iranian EFPs, thousands killed including Beirut. Regime premised on death to America, unrelenting nuclear ambitions. President Trump obliterated their nuclear program with bombs exactly where needed, setting them back. Doesn't mean they've stopped; they've miscalculated his resolve. Ask Nicolas Maduro, Houthis, southern border cartels, drug boats—when he says he'll take care of it, he does.
Possible to achieve objectives without locating, obtaining, extracting highly enriched uranium? Many ways to get after that. They used conventional missile umbrella growing daily to cover nuclear blackmail. We'll ensure nuclear ambitions never achieved. Will we take it out ourselves? Never tell options. Don't tell enemy, press, or anybody limits like boots on the ground, timelines (four weeks, two weeks, six weeks). President Trump knows; keep Iranians guessing what we might do—under him, we just might.
Do we have overt or covert forces inside Iran? That's still the answer: no. But reserve right to any option, boots on the ground or not.
President wants to protect people who could come to power in Iran. Not a new mission. Best way is current American and Israeli efforts—a generational opportunity for Iranian people. They'll choose; president clear: now is your time, but bombs dropping, be careful. If they seize it, thank President Trump.
Want Kurds involved? Up to them, not currently part of mission. They're massing in northern Iraq, approaching border. We know what's going on. Our mission set clearly described. Other groups taking advantage is on them; wish them well, not part of what we're doing. Wouldn't tell who we'd coordinate with.
Israelis via Benjamin Netanyahu provided February 23 intelligence on Ali Hami and inner circle whereabouts; US checked via CIA, confirmed—opportunity for president, precipitating factor for war. President Trump's approach advanced American interests from beginning. Intelligence from Israelis or ours always checked for accuracy. Best way to start operations is trigger- or condition-based moment, working together, but US controlled throttle on go/no-go to advance interests, protect lives. Discussion of opportunity vs. imminent threat is silly; they've been killing us 47-48 years, unabated nuclear ambitions. Obliterated program end of 12-day war in Operation Midnight Hammer; they should have come to table. President sees generational threat, acted with courage unlike previous presidents.
Not a regime change war like George W. Bush conventional sense of hundreds of thousands of troops. In Afghanistan, tried remaking biblical society with AK-47s and cell phones into Jeffersonian democracy—hubris, never going to work. American people rejected that; President Trump called those wars dumb. American strength gets more peace; Iranian regime nuclear pursuit unacceptable risk—he took action with overwhelming swift action to eliminate threat, provide options for American interests.
President said Venezuela is a model. Senators in closed briefings asked how it ends like Venezuela, now citing as positive. Venezuela example of American power and pressure on adversary in hemisphere previous presidents tolerated. Trump corollary to Monroe Doctrine (Donro doctrine) alive; held America's counter cartel conference yesterday building Central, South America, Caribbean against cartels. Going on offense smartly with power projection for outcomes—achieved due to president's leadership. Senators observed shift from "can't do Venezuela" to shining example: American officials there, reestablishing relationships, embassy, oil through proper processes, expelling Iranians, remaking adversary into strategic opportunity.
Strait of Hormuz moves taken care of. Iranian Navy largely no more; more boats to sink. Ability to project naval power diminishing. Just beginning—six days into campaign. Getting over country with impunity, dropping precision guided munitions with unlimited supplies, picking targets, sinking boats. Ensure safe passage on critical waterways.
No global oil shock; world-class energy secretary, treasury secretary, interior secretary with industry knowledge and relationships, allies mitigating. President prepared to see through, not letting it limit. Managing but prioritizing Iran power projection elimination for generational change and regional opportunity. Not a limiting factor means American public might deal with uncomfortable oil/gas prices temporarily for larger goal, but best team addressing after maximum mitigation with precision and overwhelming lethality.
Still investigating girl school strike for US involvement. Unlike Iranians, we never target civilians. Report of likely US involvement from two officials: investigating. If could say definitively not us, would—but prepared answer is investigating.
Margaret Brennan reporting allies low on interceptors: very prepared to help restock. Admiral Cooper (CENTCOM commander) said Iranian missile projection down 90%. Projections well beyond needs; can crossload to allies after ensuring US forces first. Targeting missile launchers—limited supply; they expose to shoot, we target, then missiles, production, drones. Less interceptors needed. Supercharging defense industrial base; arsenal of freedom tour ensuring contractors deliver speed, scale, under cost. Demand signals for years of munitions. More than needed; president's $1.5 trillion on defense next year. Takes deadly seriously.
Admiral Cooper referenced Iranian drone capabilities, risk to US forces, allies. Taking them on; drone warfare part of future as in Ukraine-Russia. Exponentially advanced last 4-5 years; we've advanced. Drone dominance top Pentagon priority—Department of War surging simple, loitering, one-way attack, exquisite drones like Predator hunting mobile launchers. Know what they have, mitigate, getting after it. Not harder to stop, just different problem.
Six days in, enemies are having to scoot and shoot. If not under threat, with a rifle, you can take time to aim and point easily. But under threat of loitering munition striking, after shooting, they get out quickly, set up, fire more quickly, then hide. They're not as accurate, so salvos are less accurate and lower volume, allowing more opportunities to shoot them down.
President clear: doesn't mean some won't get through, as tragically seen. Will greet families at Dover and honor sacrifice. President right: there will be casualties. Things like this don't happen without casualties. There will be more casualties. Our generation knows what it's like to see Americans come home in caskets, but that doesn't weaken us—it stiffens our spine and resolve to finish the fight.
rededicate to the mission recognizing their service and sacrifice in operation epic fury.
It's combat, war as president says—not callously or loosely. If Iran thinks they'll attrit our will, they're wrong. Our capabilities better, our will better, our troops better. Providence of almighty God protecting troops. Committed to this mission.
Reference to providence of Almighty God. Fighting religious fanatics seeking nuclear capability for religious Armageddon. Speaker man of faith, encourages troops to lean into faith, rely on God. No atheists in foxholes—mortality right in front. Remembers prayer on combat missions, how important. Making chaplain corps great again and active, pouring into faith of troops. Christian faith and faith in general important to president and fighting ranks—gives perspective on human nature, own humanity, mortality. Lost a lot with self-help, self-esteem nonsense; troops need connection with almighty God. Proud of troops' conduct, prays for them every day.
Some interpreted earlier statement that reporting casualties done to make president look bad. Media spends time making cheap shots at commander-in-chief, made whole industry of it. Networks and reporters try to find what's wrong. Not dismissing casualties—tell combat vet. Wears bracelet not for decoration, but remembering men served with who paid ultimate sacrifice for him to be in this chair, having this conversation. Real every day in decisions.
Recruiting high in military now because they understand leadership has their back, walked in their boots, not using them callously or recklessly for nebulous mission, but pouring into them, giving authority to succeed. Motivating for troops.
Point after midnight hammer and Maduro raid: media jumps to find what's wrong or imperfect, instead of stepping back to celebrate what US military can do that no other country can. Should recognize significance.
Casualties are casualties, should be reported. Act of reporting and speaking to families not part of mission to hurt troops—do as we should, no one's hiding. Will stand there, salute these incredible American heroes. Stiffens resolve. Press often looks for bad stories vs. incredible professionalism and courage of troops. No other country can do what our guys do. Humbling to lead them.
Mr. Secretary, it's been a pleasure. Thank you very much, Major. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.
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