Hegseth Claims "Overwhelming Victory" as Trump Pulls Back from Iran Brink Hours Before Deadline

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took a victory lap Wednesday, declaring that Iran had "begged for this cease-fire" after 40 days of military strikes — even as President Trump pulled back from threatened escalation just hours before his own ultimatum expired.

"Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. A capital 'V' military victory," Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon briefing. "By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat-ineffective for years to come."

The triumphant tone came after Trump reversed course late Tuesday, agreeing to a cease-fire just two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical shipping lane for global oil supplies.

The Damage Assessment

Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine offered a sweeping accounting of the destruction wrought by U.S. and Israeli forces over the past six weeks. According to their briefing, American strikes hit more than 13,000 targets across Iran.

Caine claimed 80% of Iran's air defense systems have been destroyed, along with 90% of its naval fleet and the bulk of its ballistic missile and drone production capacity. "It is — and we know this — incredibly frustrating right now to be a lower-level Iranian commander trying to fight your fight," he said.

The general added that more than 20 Iranian naval production facilities were damaged or destroyed, and "nearly 80% of Iran's nuclear industrial base was hit, further degrading their attempts to attain a nuclear weapon."

Hegseth insisted Iran's remaining enriched uranium was "buried and we're watching it," adding that Tehran would either hand it over voluntarily or face further military action. "We reserve that opportunity," he said, referencing Operation Midnight Hammer, a previous strike.

Questions About the Strait

Despite the cease-fire, critical questions remain about how commercial shipping will operate through the Strait of Hormuz — and whether Iran will be allowed to charge tolls for passage.

Trump floated an unusual proposal in an interview with ABC News Wednesday, suggesting the U.S. might manage the strait "as a joint venture" with Iran. "It's a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people," he told Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl. "It's a beautiful thing."

The comment raised immediate concerns about whether the administration plans to impose fees on international shipping lanes — a move that would upend decades of maritime law and potentially enrich both Washington and Tehran.

"Nobody Makes a Better Deal"

Hegseth framed the cease-fire as a testament to Trump's dealmaking prowess, declaring that "nobody makes a better deal than President Trump." He said the War Department had "done its part" and would now "stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term."

But the abrupt reversal — coming just hours before Trump's own deadline — suggests the administration may have blinked first. Tehran had shown no public signs of capitulation before the cease-fire was announced, and Iranian officials have not confirmed Hegseth's claim that they "begged" for the deal.

Hegseth acknowledged that Iran still has some military capability left, warning that "they can still shoot" from buried bunkers. "But that would be very, very unwise," he added.

The secretary closed his briefing by praising Trump's "courage and resolve," insisting no other president would have achieved such results. "President Trump forged this moment," he said.

What remains unclear is whether that moment represents a strategic victory — or a face-saving exit from a conflict that was spiraling toward full-scale war.