US-Iran Ceasefire Announcement
At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Iran had “begged” for a ceasefire and emphasized a complete victory for the US. He credited President Donald Trump for “engineering this moment.”
In light of the recent ceasefire, which came after Trump’s warning to devastate entire civilizations, Hegseth zoomed out, remarking on Iran’s capacity to target American lives, engage in lies, and pursue nuclear weapons. “They thought it was over. But it’s not on our radar,” he said, adding that previous presidents have overlooked the potential threats, unlike Trump, who has made a historic impact.
Hegseth claimed that Trump was pivotal in creating this juncture, stating:
From the airstrike that removed Qassem Soleimani to dismantling the flawed Obama-Iran agreement, as well as the successful operations that targeted Iran’s nuclear sites in Operation Midnight Hammer and the recent military triumph in Operation Epic Fury, no other president has shown the same courage as this commander-in-chief.
He further asserted that “Iran has begged for this ceasefire, and we all know that.” He referred to Operation Epic Fury as a “historic and overwhelming battlefield victory,” claiming it effectively “annihilated” Iran’s military capacity, rendering it incapacitated for years.
Hegseth pointed out that this victory serves as a form of retribution for the Americans lost to Iranian terrorism, especially those brave soldiers who died from Iranian roadside bombs in Iraq, as well as for the overall terror caused by the Iranian regime.
According to Hegseth, Iran is now aware that its nuclear ambitions will be hindered, asserting that it will “never” be able to acquire nuclear weapons. “The president has maintained from the outset that there will be no Iranian nuclear weapon. Period,” he said, concluding that “we control their destiny, not the other way around.”
His statements followed news of a two-week ceasefire announced the night before, which opens opportunities for critical negotiations between both parties. Reports indicate that the US has a 15-point plan, while Iran has presented a 10-point proposal.
