(SeaPRwire) –   Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Tuesday that American airstrikes against Iran will persist until the country commits to a settlement terminating its nuclear and ballistic missile initiatives.

While Iranian authorities have refuted claims of ongoing discussions with the United States, Hegseth maintained that these negotiations are indeed occurring.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Hegseth asserted that Iran’s military manufacturing capabilities have been almost entirely decimated, allowing U.S. aircraft to operate without restriction in Iranian airspace to target mobile drone and missile platforms as they are deployed.

“We prefer to limit our military actions, but my comment about ‘negotiating with bombs’ was serious. Our objective is to force Iran to understand that reaching an agreement is in their best interest under the current leadership,” Hegseth declared.

Hegseth noted that he traveled to U.S. military installations in the Middle East over the weekend to visit with troops. Following his return, he consulted on Monday with President Donald Trump’s designated Iran negotiation team, which includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Secretary added that the presence of thousands of 82nd Airborne soldiers and U.S. Marines near Iran is intended to increase leverage during talks.

When questioned about the deployment of more combat personnel, he explained that the goal is to maintain “unpredictability.”

“Our opponents currently believe we have 15 different ground-based strategies, and they are correct,” he remarked. “We are prepared to carry out those plans if directed by the President, or perhaps they won’t be necessary if diplomacy succeeds.”

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined Hegseth at the briefing and reported that the U.S. has struck 11,000 targets since the start of U.S. and Israeli operations in Iran on Feb. 28.

Recently, American warplanes have accelerated the destruction of mobile drone and rocket launchers as they move into open areas within Iran.

Caine mentioned that the additional elite units in the region provide various strategic options, noting that their presence alone serves as a warning to Iranian negotiators to reach a deal.

“The military possibilities these forces provide are broad. Iran should recognize their presence as a significant pressure point and carefully weigh the diplomatic proposals available to them,” Caine stated.

In recent weeks, Iran has caused instability in oil markets by threatening maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Although some shipments have proceeded safely following limited discussions with Iranian officials, the ongoing tension has led to a rise in fuel costs.

On Tuesday morning, Trump posted on Truth Social that international allies must take a larger role in protecting shipping lanes, stating the burden should not fall solely on the U.S.

He advised countries unwilling to participate in the conflict to secure their own oil from the Strait of Hormuz if they fear shortages. “You must learn to defend yourselves. The U.S. will no longer provide assistance if you do not support us,” Trump cautioned.

Hegseth backed this stance, suggesting that Trump is prepared to finalize a cease-fire agreement with Tehran.

“It would be wise for Iran to reach an agreement,” Hegseth said. “President Trump is prepared and willing to make a deal.”