Iran Military Experiencing Widespread Desertions, Hegseth Says (Full Press Conference)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs brief on the latest on the war with Iran. “Our strikes are damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustrations amongst senior leaders,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tells reporters on Tuesday. He added, "regime change has occurred."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said diplomatic talks to end the conflict with Iran are “gaining strength” and the US military’s job is to maintain military pressure and compel Tehran to make a deal.

Hegseth’s comments come as the war enters its second month with Iranian threats of retaliation keeping the vital Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, sending energy prices soaring and ramping up pressure on the White House to find diplomatic off-ramps.

Hegseth stressed the primary focus now is to negotiate an end to the war with Tehran. He said talks led by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were making progress.

“They are very real, they are ongoing, they’re active and I think gaining strength, and we appreciate that,” he said.

Hegseth said he made a brief trip over the weekend to visit bases under US Central Command, which is leading the military operations against Iran, and to interact with US personnel in the region. He didn’t give any details about the bases visited, citing operational security.

In the Tuesday briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said US forces continued to target Iran’s defense industrial base, logistics and supply chains in an attempt to prevent Tehran from creating more drones and missiles — a key war aim.

“The joint force continues to degrade and destroy Iran’s ability to project power and threaten stability beyond its borders,” Caine said. He added that increased US air superiority over Iran has allowed the US to fly B-52 bombers over Iran’s mainland.

Caine indicated that the US ground troops sent to the region, including thousands of Marines and paratroopers, should serve as an incentive for Iran to strike a deal.

“The range of military options that those forces can offer are extensive,” Caine said. “Iran should note that they are out there and that they are a pressure point so they should carefully consider at the diplomatic level.”

Hegseth also echoed Trump’s criticism of NATO and other US allies for not pitching in on military operations to help open the Strait of Hormuz. “This is an international waterway that we use less than most — in fact, dramatically less than most — so the world ought to pay attention and be prepared to stand up,” he said.

Citing US intelligence but without giving any details, Hegseth also said continuous airstrikes were eroding morale in Iran’s security forces.

“Our strikes are damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustrations amongst senior leaders,” Hegseth said.

From the outside, Iran’s military — both its regular forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — has remained unified and resilient in the face of the US and Israeli attacks. There’s little sign of desertions, particularly among senior commanders.

There may be divisions among Iran’s leaders over whether and how to negotiate with the US. But those disagreements aren’t leading to a breakdown in the Iranian military’s ability or willingness to keep striking Israel and Arab Gulf states.

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