Washington: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the upcoming days will be "decisive" in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, emphasizing that the United States is not ruling out any option amid speculation about potential ground operations in the Islamic Republic. Hegseth made these remarks during a press briefing with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, following President Donald Trump's warning to Iran regarding its key oil hub, Kharg Island, and other critical infrastructure.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Hegseth highlighted that the Trump administration is keeping all options open as it seeks to pressure Tehran into accepting a peace deal. The focus is on ending the conflict to avoid a prolonged war in the Middle East and to mitigate its effects on oil prices and inflation. Hegseth mentioned that the Pentagon has deployed additional U.S. troops to the Middle East to provide President Trump with "maximum optionality," leading to speculation about potential ground operations in Iran.

Hegseth pointed out that the U.S. has multiple strategies to deploy ground forces in Iran but refrained from providing specific details. He noted that past experiences from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being considered to avoid repeating those lessons. On the timeline for achieving U.S. objectives in the conflict with Iran, Hegseth expressed confidence in progress but declined to specify exact time frames, stressing the importance of strategic ambiguity.

He also called for the involvement of other nations that rely on the Strait of Hormuz for energy imports to contribute to securing the waterway, asserting that the responsibility should not fall solely on the United States. Hegseth emphasized that while the U.S. has taken a leading role under President Trump, international collaboration is essential for addressing the broader issues in the region.