Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated Tuesday that regime change has occurred in Iran, urging the new leadership to pursue a deal with the United States.

Hegseth made the remarks alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine during a Pentagon briefing on Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign now in its fifth week. "This new regime, because regime change has occurred, should be wiser than the last," Hegseth said. He added that President Donald Trump is willing to negotiate if Iran accepts known terms, but warned of intensified strikes otherwise.

The briefing followed Hegseth's weekend visit to U.S. troops in the Middle East, where he observed operations including missile interceptions and bombing runs over Iran. He reported the lowest number of Iranian missile and drone launches in the past 24 hours and detailed 200 dynamic strikes overnight, plus pre-planned attacks on targets like an ammunition depot in Isfahan.

The war began on February 28, 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched surprise airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites, missile facilities, nuclear infrastructure, and leadership. The initial barrage, involving nearly 900 strikes in 12 hours, killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials. Iran responded with missile and drone barrages under Operation True Promise IV, striking Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf allies including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Since then, U.S. forces have struck over 11,000 targets, achieving air superiority and naval dominance by sinking more than 150 Iranian vessels. Iran has fired over 1,250 missiles and 2,300 drones, but U.S. officials report systematic degradation of Tehran's capabilities, including desertions and leadership flight. Mojtaba Khamenei was elected Supreme Leader on March 8 amid the chaos.

Iran has seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, imposing tolls in Chinese yuan on passing ships and disrupting global oil flows, with prices reaching $114 per barrel. The conflict has expanded, with Hezbollah clashing against Israel in Lebanon and Houthis targeting shipping.

Casualties number in the thousands. Iran reports 2,076 to 7,779 killed, including civilians and military. The U.S. has lost 15 soldiers with 332 wounded, while Israel reports 34 killed and over 6,000 injured. Allied Gulf states have suffered dozens of deaths.

President Trump echoed the regime change assessment Sunday, signaling potential talks while rejecting a 15-point U.S. peace proposal that Iran conditioned on including Lebanon. Hegseth emphasized Trump's resolve to deny Iran nuclear weapons and end its regional threats.