Hegseth Says Trump Ready to Deal with Iran, Warns of Increased Military Force

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that President Trump is prepared to negotiate with Iran and is not bluffing about his position. Hegseth said Iran's leadership should understand that Trump does not back down, describing the current Iranian government as a "new regime" that should be smarter than its predecessor. He indicated the terms for a deal are known to Iran, but warned that if Tehran is not ready to negotiate, the U.S. Department of Defense will continue operations with even greater force.