US Aims to Push Iran Into Abandoning Nuclear Ambitions, Says Hegseth

When questioned about the White House's strategy to pressure Tehran into a new nuclear accord, Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. goal is to force Iran into a position where "they sit down to negotiate the abandonment" of their program.

Hegseth claimed that although joint U.S. and Israeli strikes "completely destroyed" Iran’s nuclear facilities last year, the country’s "nuclear ambitions" remain intact. He noted that these aspirations are shielded by a "conventional shield of thousands of missiles." The U.S. administration now intends to exert maximum pressure to ensure Tehran permanently steps away from its nuclear pursuit, prioritizing regional and global security.