Hegseth says next few days in Iran war will be decisive

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing held with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine (not pictured), amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 31, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON, March ⁠31 (Reuters) - The next few days ⁠in the Middle East conflict ‌will be decisive, U.S. DefenseSecretary Pete Hegseth told a briefing on Tuesday, saying there ​had been major desertions ⁠from the ⁠Iranian armed forces.

"We have more and more ⁠options, ‌and they have less ... in only one month ⁠we set the terms, the upcoming ​days ‌will be decisive," Hegseth said. "Iran ⁠knows that, ​and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it."

Hegseth, citing ⁠intelligence, said the strikes ​were damaging the morale of the Iranian military. This, he said, was ⁠triggering widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustration amongst senior leaders.

Hegseth also said he had ​visited troops in the ⁠Middle East on Saturday to ​witness the military operation ‌against Iran.

(Reporting by Phil ​Stewart, writing by David Ljunggren, editing by Michelle Nichols)