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.
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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.
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