War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States’ military campaign against Iran is designed to push the regime toward accepting a deal to end the conflict, making clear that sustained pressure is central to the strategy.

During a morning briefing alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan “Raizin” Caine, broadcast live on Newsmax, Hegseth described an approach aligned with President Donald Trump’s “peace through strength” philosophy, combining forceful military action with an open door to negotiations.

“Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime, this regime in charge, is in a better place if they make that deal,” Hegseth said, adding that while diplomacy remains the preferred outcome, “in the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs.”

Hegseth also spoke about recent trips to meet American forces involved in “Operation Epic Fury,” commending what he called the “American warrior unleashed” and noting the determination among troops to “finish the mission.”

He said U.S. service members across multiple branches are engaged in intensive operations, striking targets deep inside Iran while simultaneously defending against missile and drone attacks.

Gen. Caine reported that American forces have hit more than 11,000 targets in the past month, dealing a significant blow to Iran’s missile systems, drone capabilities, and naval assets.

He added that the strikes have severely weakened Iran’s defense production infrastructure, reducing its ability to replenish lost equipment.

“We continue to systematically degrade and destroy Iran’s ability to project power,” Caine said, explaining that operations are taking place across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.

Hegseth pointed to intelligence assessments indicating falling morale within Iranian ranks, rising numbers of defections, and a noticeable decline in missile and drone launches.

He also highlighted the destruction of major command centers and weapons facilities, including targets recently cited by Trump.

“American firepower is only increasing. Iran’s is decreasing,” Hegseth said, crediting Trump with taking decisive action where past administrations hesitated.

The defense secretary reiterated Trump’s position that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, describing that goal as a cornerstone of the ongoing campaign.

At the same time, Hegseth stressed that responsibility for protecting global stability — including key chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz — should not rest solely on the United States.

“The world ought to be prepared to step up,” he said, echoing Trump’s call for allies to contribute more to collective defense.

While he did not offer a specific timetable for the conflict, Hegseth emphasized that all options remain available, including further escalation if Iran declines to engage in negotiations.

“We’re not going to foreclose any option,” he said, underscoring the need to preserve strategic flexibility.

Despite concerns about the duration of the war, Hegseth expressed confidence in the current approach, stating that the United States is “closer than ever before to winning.”

“This is about history. This is about legacy,” he said. “Success matters.”