WASHINGTON, March 31 - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a briefing on Tuesday that the coming days in the Middle East conflict would be decisive, reporting what he described as major desertions from the Iranian armed forces.
Hegseth said, citing intelligence, that recent actions were undermining the morale of Iran's military and producing tangible personnel impacts. "We have more and more options, and they have less ... in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive," he said. "Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it."
According to Hegseth, the strikes he referenced have been eroding morale within the Iranian armed forces. He said that this effect is contributing to "widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustration amongst senior leaders." He attributed those assessments to intelligence reporting.
In addition to summarizing the intelligence assessments, Hegseth told the briefing that he had travelled to the Middle East on Saturday to visit troops and to observe the military operation against Iran firsthand.
Context and limitations
The statements provided at the briefing present the Defense Secretary's characterisation of the current military situation as derived from intelligence. The remarks describe shifts in morale and personnel within the Iranian armed forces and assert a narrowing set of options available to Iran, according to Hegseth. The briefing did not provide additional operational details or independent corroboration beyond the Secretary's cited intelligence assessments.
What was reported
- Hegseth described the next few days as decisive in the Middle East conflict.
- He said there have been major desertions from Iran's armed forces and that strikes have damaged morale.
- He stated he visited troops on Saturday to witness the military operation against Iran.
The information in this report reflects the statements made by the U.S. Defense Secretary at the briefing and the intelligence he cited; it does not add other details or independent verification beyond those statements.