The United States will monitor Iran under a new cease-fire deal, according to War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who added that his department will step back from the Middle East conflict.
Hegseth gave the remarks during an April 8 press conference at the Pentagon.
"Iran no longer has an air defense, any sort of a comprehensive air defense system,” Hegseth said. “We own their skies, their missile program is functionally destroyed, launchers, production facilities, and existing stockpiles depleted and decimated and almost completely ineffective.”
President Donald Trump had threatened Iran with strikes on their power plants and other infrastructure targets if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened by midnight on April 7.
Praising Trump’s deal-making skills, Hegseth said the Iranians came to the table humiliated and demoralized, and as a result, the War Department will retreat.
“We control their fate, not the other way around,” he said. “That's why they came to the table. The War Department, for now, has done its part. We stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term.”
Trump and his administration have described the operation as an effort to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, arguing it addressed an imminent threat.
Conditions of the cease-fire include nuclear removal, monitoring of Iranian sites in exchange for mercy on oil infrastructure, bridges, and power plants, according to Hegseth.
“Under the terms, any nuclear material they should not have will be removed right now,” he said. “Their dust is deeply buried and watched 24/7 overhead. The president has been clear from the beginning, there will be no Iranian nuclear weapons.”
The conflict stems from Trump pre-emptively striking Iran on Feb. 28, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Israeli Defense Forces.
Since then, Operation Epic Fury has damaged or destroyed more than 120 Iranian ships, struck more 13,000 Iranian targets, including approximately 80 percent of Iran's air defense systems, striking more than 1,500 air defense targets, more than 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, 801 one-way attack drones storage facilities, according to the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, in the same presser.
Hegseth also confirmed a "death list" that includes their previous supreme leader, their supreme national security council secretary, their military office chief, their defense minister, the IRGC Navy and Intelligence chiefs, and their Armed Forces general staff commander.
“To the warriors of Epic Fury, I say, well done,” he added. “You're the backbone of our country. Your skill, your bravery, and sheer guts and grit showed the world what America is all about. I'm proud of you. We're proud of you. The president is proud of you. Job well done, but stay vigilant and stay ready.”