Hegseth:

The three Air Force captains shot down weeks ago by Kuwaiti friendly fire never left the theater.

They all dropped bombs over Tehran last night.

Hegseth:

The coming days will be decisive. Iran knows that.

There is almost nothing they can do militarily about it.

Hegseth on Iran:

Yes, they will still shoot some missiles — but we will shoot them down.

Hegseth on Iran:

The video Trump posted last night showed an ammo depot in Isfahan struck by U.S. bombers.

You don’t see many of those videos because, as a reminder, Iran has shut off the internet to 99.9 percent of its population.

Hegseth on Iran:

If Iran is wise, it will cut a deal. Trump doesn’t bluff, and he does not back down.

The new Iranian regime should understand that by now. Regime change has occurred. This new regime should be wiser than the last.

Trump is willing to make a deal, and the terms are known to them.

If Iran is not willing, then the United States Department of Defense will continue with even greater intensity.

Hegseth on Iran:

Our strikes are damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions and key personnel shortages.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Over the past 29 days — I’m sorry, 30 days — we have struck more than 11,000 targets.

With increased air superiority, we have successfully begun conducting the first overland B-52 missions.

Hegseth says U.S. personnel on the ground want "more bombs, bigger bombs, and more targets" to "finish the job."

Hegseth:

Our defense industrial base is more vibrant today than it has been since World War II — and it’s growing rapidly.

Contrast that with Iran, whose defense industrial base is nearly completely destroyed.

Hegseth on the Strait of Hormuz:

I believe Trump was clear this morning in his truth that countries around the world should be prepared to step up on this critical waterway.

It’s not just the United States Navy. The last time I checked, there is a large and capable Royal Navy that could be prepared to contribute as well.

Hegseth on the Strait of Hormuz:

This is not just our problem going forward, even though we have done the lion’s share of the preparation to ensure that the Strait will remain open.

That is the desired outcome.

Trump on potentially pulling U.S. forces back from Iran War:

At some point I will, not quite yet.

Hegseth on Iran:

We know exactly what Russia and China are doing... we are addressing it.

Hegseth on Iran:

There are some things adversaries are doing to provide info and intel that they shouldn't.

We are aware of it, and we move things around.

Trump to CBS on the Strait of Hormuz:

Countries have to come in and take care of it. They’re going to have to come in and do their own work.

There's no real threat in the Strait of Hormuz.

Let them come and take it like they're supposed to. Let them come up and take it. They didn't want to give a hand to anybody.

So if they want oil, come up and grab it.

Let them come up and take it. It's about time they did something for themselves.

Hegseth on Iran:

Our adversary thinks there are 15 different ways we can come at them with boots on the ground, and guess what? There are.

We could execute them if we needed to, but maybe we won't have to use them at all.

The point is to be unpredictable.

Hegseth on NATO:

You don't have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them.

Hegseth on Iran:

The talks are very real, they are ongoing, they are active, and they are gaining strength.

Trump:

Melania and I are pleased to announce that Their Majesties, the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, will visit the United States for a Historic State Visit from April 27-30th, which will include a beautiful Banquet Dinner at the White House on the evening of April 28th.

This momentous occasion will be even more special this year, as we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of our Great Country.

I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies.

Their intentions are clear.

What they've gotten wrong is that they're not dealing with defenseless Palestinian civilians. Our Powerful Armed Forces will severely punish aggressors.

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