Breaking: Hegseth Won’t Rule Out Boots on the Ground in Iran: ‘We’ll Go as Far as We Need to Go’

mars 02, 2026

There are currently no U.S. boots on the ground in Iran, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a press conference Monday morning, before refusing to rule out a potential ground invasion.

Hegseth, who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, insisted that the Trump administration would not repeat the mistakes of previous administrations by engaging in a protracted, open-ended campaign.

“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said.

“No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don't waste time or lives,” he added.

Hegseth did, however, stipulate that the U.S. would go “as far as we need to go” to ensure that Iran’s conventional and nuclear military capabilities are completely neutralized. He also criticized previous U.S. administrations for telegraphing their intentions during military conflict and said the Trump administration would withhold certain information to avoid “tipping off the enemy.”

“We’ll go as far as we need to go to advance American interests,” Hegseth said. “But we’re not dumb about it. You don’t need to roll 200,000 people in there and stay for 20 years.”

Hegseth was joined by General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to give an update on the current operation against Iran, following Saturday’s early morning strikes on the country. The Monday morning press conference was the first official news briefing from the administration after Saturday’s strikes.

The U.S. death toll has risen, with four U.S. service members killed in the conflict thus far. Caine said this is not a “single overnight operation” and that “We expect to take additional losses.”

“Our deepest heartfelt condolences are with their families,” Caine said. “We will never forget you.”

The conflict continues to escalate: Kuwait, a U.S. ally, “mistakenly shot down” three American fighter jets under fire from the Iranians. All six of the fighter pilots safely ejected from their planes, according to U.S. Central Command.

Iran continues to launch missiles at U.S. allies and U.S. military targets in the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel have both targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, as well as the country’s navy. The strikes also took out dozens of Iranian officials and the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Iran was building powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions,” Hegseth said. “The former regime had every chance to make a peaceful and sensible deal. But Tehran was not negotiating.”

The secretary clarified that this is not a “regime-change war,” but noted that the world is now better off following the ayatollah’s death. The U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran were a response to a 47-year-long “savage, one-sided war against America,” Hegseth said.

President Donald Trump said the conflict is just beginning and could last up to four weeks. Hegseth echoed that timeline, but also said it is feasible that the timeline could move up or back.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Caine are set to address Congress on Tuesday.