‘Pete Said, Let’s Do It’: Trump Shifts Onus Of Iran War To US Defence Secretary

Last Updated:March 24, 2026, 08:25 IST

The US President also acknowledged that not everyone within his administration initially supported the move.

As the Iran war entered its fourth week and questions mounted over its origins and objectives, US President Donald Trump has offered a new account of how the decision to launch military action was made — pointing directly to his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Speaking at a roundtable in Memphis, Tennessee, Trump claimed that Hegseth was the first senior official to advocate for strikes against Iran. “Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up, and you said, ‘Let’s do it because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,’" Trump said, with Hegseth seated beside him.

The remark added another layer to an already shifting narrative around the conflict, which began in late February and has since expanded into a broader regional crisis.

Hegseth has emerged as the public face of the war effort, regularly briefing reporters at the Pentagon and outlining US military objectives, including dismantling Iran’s missile programme, drone production and naval capabilities. He has also defended the campaign against criticism and pushed back on negative media coverage.

The US President also acknowledged that not everyone within his administration initially supported the move. Vice President JD Vance, known for his skepticism of foreign interventions, was described by Trump as less enthusiastic, though he has not voiced public opposition.

Despite the administration’s messaging, there appears to be little clarity on how long the conflict will last. Hegseth recently declined to provide a timeline for ending operations, saying the effort was “very much on track" while leaving the final decision to Trump.

Why did the US go to war with Iran? Some have claimed Israel was going to strike anyway, making US involvement inevitable. Others have insisted Iran was on the brink of deploying a nuclear weapon.

“I called Pete. I called General Kane. I called a lot of our great people," he said. “We got a problem in the Middle East Or we can take a stop and make a little journey into the Middle East and eliminate a big problem," Trump said.

Reports also pointed to differing views behind the scenes. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Rupert Murdoch were among those said to have encouraged military action, while other officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urged caution.

The internal divisions have already had consequences. Joe Kent resigned last week, becoming the first senior official to step down over the conflict.

Trump has also offered varying explanations for the war itself — at times suggesting it was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while at other moments implying it was a preemptive move to counter broader regional threats.

Adding to the uncertainty, Trump claimed that Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf were unexpected, saying “nobody was even thinking about it." However, reports indicate that warnings of possible retaliation may have been issued in advance.

Meanwhile, Trump has announced a temporary halt to strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, citing “very strong talks" and “major points of agreement."

“We have had very, very strong talks… we have major points of agreement," Trump said, adding that a five-day pause in military action had been granted to allow diplomacy a chance. “If it goes well, we’re going to end up settling this. Otherwise, we’ll just keep bombing," he warned.

However, Iran has firmly denied that any direct negotiations with Washington have taken place. Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed claims of talks as “fake news" aimed at influencing global markets.

News world ‘Pete Said, Let’s Do It’: Trump Shifts Onus Of Iran War To US Defence Secretary

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