The Pentagon signaled a shift in military transparency on Monday as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth refused to rule out the possibility of putting American boots on the ground in Iran.
Speaking during a joint press conference with U.S. Central Command, Hegseth emphasized that the Trump administration intends to keep its tactical options private while pursuing the objectives of Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign launched early Saturday to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
When asked directly if American troops were currently operating on Iranian soil, Hegseth confirmed there are currently no boots on the ground but declined to set boundaries for the future.
He described the practice of disclosing military limits to the public or to adversaries as “foolishness,” arguing that President Trump wants enemies to understand the U.S. will go as far as necessary to advance its interests.
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Hegseth noted that while the administration will be “bold” and “decisive,” they do not necessarily envision a long-term occupation. He pointed out that the military can achieve its goals without “rolling two hundred thousand people in there” for two decades, suggesting a more calculated approach to ground operations.
The Secretary’s comments come at a high-stakes moment for the region. The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the opening stages of the conflict have already resulted in the deaths of four American service members, with five others wounded.
The conflict escalated rapidly following the initial U.S. strikes, which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous senior regime officials. In response, Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting both American and Israeli assets.
Throughout the briefing, Hegseth maintained that the military would act “unapologetically” to win.
He told reporters that the Department of Defense has put months of planning into the desired effects of the campaign and will not provide the enemy with a roadmap of what they are willing or unwilling to do.
According to Hegseth, the primary focus remains on achieving the specific objectives laid out by the president, regardless of the level of force required to meet them.
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