US Defense Secretary Says Current "Top Priority" is Seeking Agreement to End Iran Conflict, After Which Trump Will Decide on NATO's Future

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Washington's primary goal is to end military operations against Iran through negotiations, while warning that the coming days will be a decisive moment and suggesting that NATO's future will depend on allies' performance in this operation. On March 31, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a joint press conference at the Pentagon with General Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making it clear that the current "top priority" for the United States is to seek an agreement to end the conflict with Iran. He also noted that the coming days will be a decisive moment. He also stated clearly that President Trump will make a decision on the future direction of NATO after the operations against Iran conclude—a remark aimed directly at allies who refused to provide assistance in the operation. Diplomacy First, but Military Pressure Continues to Escalate According to Xinhua News Agency, Hegseth explicitly listed reaching an agreement as the primary goal at the press conference. "We are working together, but the primary direction of effort remains reaching an agreement; whenever possible, we want to facilitate an agreement," he said. Concurrently, he emphasized that U.S. military options are expanding rather than narrowing. According to media reports, Hegseth stated at the press conference: "We have more and more options, while their options are becoming fewer... In just one month, we have seized the initiative, and the next few days will be decisive. Iran knows this." General Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added at the same venue that the "military options" available to the U.S. are "extensive," and the reinforcements sent to the Middle East "are by no means limited to ground combat." He emphasized that these troops are already in place, exerting "tangible pressure," and urged Iran to "give careful consideration" on the diplomatic level. Hegseth's remarks on NATO are particularly noteworthy. He explicitly stated that, given some allies' refusal to provide help in the current operations against Iran, President Trump will make a decision on NATO's future after the military actions conclude. This statement directly links the allies' stance on the Iran issue with the long-term direction of NATO, exerting clear diplomatic pressure on European allies. According to Xinhua News Agency, Hegseth also said he inspected U.S. troops in the Middle East on the 28th, but did not disclose the specific location. Regarding a reporter's question on whether the U.S. would deploy ground troops in Iran, Hegseth did not answer directly, only stating that "the key is to maintain unpredictability." Finally, Hegseth once again urged Iran to "open" the Strait of Hormuz at the press conference, stating that "all countries in the world should be prepared to take action" to ensure the smooth flow of this vital global energy corridor.