U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday (April 8) that the Strait of Hormuz is open and the U.S. military would be "hanging around" in the Middle East to ensure Iran complies with the ceasefire, Reuters reports.
"We're not going anywhere. We're going to make sure Iran complies with the ceasefire, and that ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal," he said during a Wednesday joint briefing with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine.
The remarks came a day after President Donald Trump pulled back from the brink of a threatened civilization-ending assault on Iran on Tuesday (April 7) night, two hours before a deadline he had set for Tehran to open the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran, which demonstrated its ability to cut off Gulf energy supplies through its grip on the strait, has also claimed victory and says it is entering the talks without trust in U.S. negotiators.
Hegseth, however,portrayed Iran as militarily defeated and without any option but to strike a deal. Hegseth and Caine spoke about the destruction of Iran's defense industry, its navy and its missile capabilities.
Hegseth also said the U.S. military would monitor the country's enriched uranium stockpile.
"On the uranium, we're watching it. We know what they have, and they will give it up, and we'll get it. We'll take it if we have to," Hegseth told reporters.
