Secretary of War Pete Hegseth snapped at a reporter during a Wednesday morning press conference after being pressed on Donald Trump‘s ceasefire deal with Iran.
Just over 12 hours after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth took the podium in the Pentagon‘s briefing room.
He touted the President’s deal, declared the US had won the war ‘with a capital V’ and boasted of the number of Iranian leaders killed by American and Israeli forces.
‘They’re still firing ballistic missiles,’ a reporter blurted out as Hegseth fielded a question from another journalist – furious at being passed over. Which outlet she represents is unclear.
Her outburst came after Iran launched waves of missiles and drones at countries across the region following the ceasefire announcement, targeting Israel, Kuwait and the UAE.
The Secretary of War wheeled round and delivered a Trumpian rebuttal: ‘Excuse me. Why are you so rude? Just wait, I am calling on people.’
Taking the next question, he craned his neck, glanced back at the reporter and muttered ‘nasty’ – just loud enough for his microphone to catch it.
Moments earlier, Hegseth had said it takes time for ceasefire orders to filter down through the Iranian military’s ranks, and that the Pentagon had been monitoring the Islamic Republic’s missile fire.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth snapped at a reporter, calling her ‘nasty,’ after she interrupted the Pentagon boss as he fielded a question from another member of the press
U.S. Navy fighter jets take off from USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Epic Fury. US forces have halted strikes as negotiations are ongoing
A smoldering building in Lebanon after Israeli strikes on Wednesday
‘As far as shooting, we were monitoring it last night in real time,’ Hegseth said. ‘Iran would be wise to find a way to get the carrier pigeon to their troops in remote locations – to know not to shoot, not to fire one-way attacks or missiles. Ceasefires take time to take hold sometimes.’
‘We’re watching it. We’re prepared if necessary, but we hope and believe that it will hold,’ he continued.
Trump had announced the deal just hours before his 8pm ET deadline for Iran to strike terms or face ‘annihilation.’ Posting on Truth Social – after threatening to wipe out Iran’s ‘entire civilization’ if it did not reopen the Strait – he declared: ‘I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.’
Iran’s 10-point peace plan calls for an end to hostilities, Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, the right to continue enriching uranium, US withdrawal from the region and the lifting of sanctions, among other demands.
The ceasefire was approved by Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, according to the New York Times.
‘If Iran refused our terms, the next targets would have been their power plants, their bridges and oil and energy infrastructure – we were locked and loaded,’ Hegseth said. ‘They couldn’t defend against it. President Trump chose mercy because Iran accepted the ceasefire under overwhelming pressure.’
