Hegseth, Caine do not rule out 'boots on the ground' in Iran

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(The Center Square) – The U.S. doubled down on calls to allied countries for help defending the Strait of Hormuz and did not rule out boots on the ground in Iran, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday. 

Hegseth spoke to reporters at a news conference Tuesday morning. He reiterated calls from President Donald Trump to allied countries for help securing access to the Strait. Trump criticized France and the United Kingdom on Tuesday morning. He said the U.K. should step up to defend the Strait in order to lower oil prices

"You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us." Trump wrote on social media.

The Secretary of War agreed.

"There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well, it's not just the United States Navy," Hegseth said. "Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well." 

Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine repeatedly refused to rule out putting U.S. soldiers on the ground in Iran. 

"Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we can come at them with boots on the ground," Hegseth said. "Guess what? There are."

Caine said U.S. boots on the ground are ready if called on and would pose a "pressure point" for Iran. He said Iran should keep that in mind as it negotiates with the U.S.

"Iran should note that they're out there, and a pressure point," Caine said. 

Caine said the U.S. has destroyede more than 150 Iranian ships and has sought to disable the country's defense industrial base. 

"This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons research and development labs and the associated infrastructure required for Iran to reconstitute its combat capability," Caine said.  

Throughout the news conference Hegseth pointed to the belief that Iranian leaders are hiding underground. He noted that last 24 hours saw the lowest number of enemy missiles and drones fired by Iran. 

"In only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive," Hegseth said. "Iran knows that, and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it."

He called on Iran to cut a deal with the United States and said the terms of the deal are known to Iranian leaders. 

"If Iran is not willing, the United States War Department will continue with even more intensity," Hegseth said.