A reporter pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Tuesday on President Donald Trump’s sudden change of mind on his demand for Iran to unconditionally surrender.
Trump demanded an “unconditional surrender” from Iran on March 6 and stated that he would not accept any deal except for total capitulation, although he later backtracked on this demand and allowed for negotiations to take place. Newsmax White House correspondent James Rosen asked Hegseth when Trump decided to “capitulate” on his demand for Iran’s surrender.
“On the first day of this conflict, President Trump addressed the Iranian people directly and said, when we’re finished, take over your government. It’ll be yours to take,” Rosen said. “And then on the seventh day of the conflict, in a Truth Social post, the president said, ‘there will be no deal with Iran except, unconditional surrender.’ What happens to that pledge to the Iranians? And when did the President decide to capitulate on his demand for unconditional surrender?”
“Well, James, you started out nicely, but you ended exactly where we knew you would end,” Hegseth said. “The President hasn’t capitulated on anything. He holds the cards. We remain, we maintain the upper hand, and Project Freedom only strengthens that hand. And so he will ensure that whatever deal is made, or whatever end state is reached, creates ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon, which is a number one, and he’s been focused on that. And the deal and discussions are centered on that. And what the Iranian people take advantage of after the fact is up to them. And he’s been very clear about that.”
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Trump added that the U.S. would help Iran rebuild if the nation agreed to surrender and replace its leadership. By early April, he walked back this demand and worked to negotiate an end to the war, implemented a ceasefire and review peace proposals.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire which began on April 8. However, Iran has attacked U.S. forces since the ceasefire went into effect, leading to questions about whether the ceasefire was still in place. U.S. forces have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, as well as destroying attack boats.
Despite these actions, Hegseth told Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese that the ceasefire is not over.
Trump said he is currently reviewing a new Iranian 14-point peace proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil exports.
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