War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Trump Administration is prepared to go “as far as we need” to topple Iran’s ruling regime — and refused to rule out the possibility of U.S. ground troops entering Tehran as Operation Epic Fury escalates.
“We’re willing to go as far as we need in order to be successful,” Hegseth told CBS News’ Major Garrett during a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday.
Sec. Of War Pete Hegseth: "You don’t tell the enemy, you don’t tell the press, you don’t tell anybody what your limits would be on an operation. We are willing to go as far as we need to be successful."
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 9, 2026
“We reserve the right. We would be completely unwise if we did not reserve the right to take any particular option, whether it included boots on the ground or not boots on the ground.”
President Trump delivered a similar message last week, telling the New York Post that U.S. forces could be sent into Iran if military leaders determine it is necessary.
Hegseth said operational decisions — including whether American troops might deploy openly or covertly — would not be telegraphed publicly.
“People ask, ‘Boots on the ground, no boots on the ground, four weeks, two weeks, six weeks? Go in, go in,’” he said. “President Trump knows — I know — you don’t tell the enemy, you don’t tell the press, you don’t tell anybody what your limits would be on an operation.”
“People ask [about] boots on the ground,” says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “President Trump knows, I know, you don't tell the enemy, you don't tell the press, you don't tell anybody what your limits would be on an operation.” https://t.co/9fhjSS8Bfd pic.twitter.com/NH7x4YB9rx
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) March 8, 2026
The Pentagon chief also acknowledged the human cost of the widening conflict, warning that more American casualties are likely as the campaign continues.
Seven U.S. service members have been killed in Iranian retaliatory drone strikes, including six Army Reservists stationed in Kuwait and another who later died from wounds sustained in Saudi Arabia.
“The president’s been right to say there will be casualties,” Hegseth said. “Things like this don’t happen without casualties. There will be more casualties … especially our generation knows what it’s like to see Americans come home in caskets. But that doesn’t weaken us one bit. It stiffens our spine and our resolve to say this is a fight we will finish.”
The six slain reservists — Nicole Amor, 39; Cody Khork, 35; Declan Coady, 20; Robert Marzan, 54; Jeffrey O’Brien, 45; and Noah Tietjens, 42 — were returned to the United States Saturday during a solemn transfer ceremony.
A seventh service member who died from wounds sustained in Saudi Arabia has not yet been publicly identified.
More over at The New York Post:
Hegseth vows US will 'go as far as we need' to topple Iranian regime as conflict escalates – including possible 'boots on ground' https://t.co/SjJSHS96ac pic.twitter.com/ylSuYEUuWk
— New York Post (@nypost) March 9, 2026
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