U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated during a joint press conference on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, that the coming days will be “decisive” in the ongoing war with Iran. Speaking alongside General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth noted a significant shift in the military landscape, reporting that the volume of projectiles launched by Iranian forces over the past 24 hours reached its lowest point since the conflict began on February 28. This drop in activity suggests a potential depletion of Iranian domestic stockpiles or a strategic recalibration by Tehran following weeks of intense U.S.-Israeli aerial operations.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says upcoming days will be decisive in war with Iran.
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— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 31, 2026
The briefing followed a series of aggressive social media posts from Trump, who pressured U.S. allies to launch a coordinated maritime operation to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this public stance, The Wall Street Journal reports that the President has privately signaled a willingness to conclude the primary military campaign even if the Strait remains largely obstructed. This potential pivot indicates that the administration may prioritize a swift troop withdrawal over the complex, high-risk task of immediately reopening the global energy corridor, leaving maritime security to a later regional or international mandate.
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