Hegseth: Talks with Iran ‘Very Real’ and ‘Gaining Strength’
John Hayward31 Mar 20267
Talks with Iran are “very real” and “gaining strength” despite claims to the contrary by some Iranian officials, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth affirmed Tuesday.
“On the talks, I can tell you, having been with Steve and Jared and the vice president, Marco and many others yesterday – they are very real, they are ongoing, they’re active and I think gaining strength, and we appreciate that,” Hegseth said, referring to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, respectively.
“Our strikes are damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustrations amongst senior leaders,” he said.
Hegseth said “regime change has occurred” in Iran, a point also made by President Trump on Sunday.
Trump argued Iran is currently on its third regime since the war began, and it has “been very reasonable” compared to its predecessors. He said on Monday that Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is representing the new regime in talks with U.S. negotiators.
“Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime is in a better place if they make that deal,” Hegseth said on Tuesday.
https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2026/03/31/hegseth-talks-with-iran-very-real-and-gaining-strength/
