Hegseth on potential of U.S. boots on the ground in Iran: "We're willing to go as far as we need to"
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The Bottom Line
Defense Secretary Hegseth indicated the U.S. is open to deploying ground troops in Iran, stating no limits on operations.
How This Affects You
Potential military escalation in the Middle East could lead to higher gasoline prices, potentially increasing your fuel costs by an unknown amount.
AI Summary
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated a broad scope for potential U.S. military operations, stating to CBS News that "You don't tell anybody what your limits would be on an operation" when questioned about deploying troops to Iran. This statement suggests the administration is not ruling out ground forces in the region, according to the interview with Major Garrett. The comment comes amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. This stance signals a potentially aggressive foreign policy approach toward Iran, leaving open various military options. The implications of such a policy could significantly escalate regional conflicts.
What's Being Done
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated the U.S. is not ruling out deploying ground troops to Iran.
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CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett sat down with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington, D.C. They spoke on Friday, March 6th about the state of the war with Iran, potential American casualties, what an Iranian surrender could look like, and more. Editor's note: The video above is an extended version of the interview that was broadcast on 60 Minutes on Sunday, March 8, 2026. This extended version was condensed for clarity.
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<p>Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran's new supreme leader, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/mojtaba-khamenei-iran-supreme-leader" target="_blank">Mojtaba Khamenei</a>, is "wounded and likely disfigured."</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Hegseth's claim was the first official statement by the Trump administration about Khamenei's health since he was named the country's leader.</p><hr><ul><li>"Iran's leadership is in no better shape. Desperate and hiding they have gone underground, cowering. That's what rats do. We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured," Hegseth told reporters at a briefing.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> President Trump told G7 leaders in a virtual meeting on Wednesday that Khamenei "is not in good shape," according to a source with knowledge of the call.</p><ul><li>"Nobody knows who is the leader, so there is no one that can announce surrender," <a href="https://www.axios.c...
PoliticsPete Hegseth attacks media for not being positive enough about US attacks on Iran
<p>US defense head is eager to frame operation as a success – and slam journalists for not portraying it in a positive light</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campaign=BN22326&utm_content=signup&utm_term=standfirst&utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a> on Friday again claimed the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-military">US military</a> campaign against <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran">Iran</a> has been an unprecedented success, using a Pentagon press conference to accuse journalists of downplaying Washington’s supposed gains on the battlefield.</p><p>Speaking alongside the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, the US defens...
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Trump says US destroyed every military target on Iran’s Kharg Island, threatens oil infrastructure if tankers blocked
President Trump said on Friday that the U.S. military conducted one of the most “powerful” bombing raids and totally “obliterated” every military target on Iran’s Kharg Island, one of the country’s most vital economic outposts. The president said that for “reasons of decency,” the U.S. military did not wipe out the oil infrastructure on the…
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