WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is willing to strike a deal with Iran as negotiations gather momentum, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday, as Pakistan intensified diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Middle East conflict.
Speaking alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said diplomatic engagement with Tehran was “very real”, “ongoing” and “gaining strength”.
“The primary effort is a deal,” Hegseth told reporters, adding that the United States would prefer a negotiated outcome if Iran agrees to relinquish capabilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Hegseth said Washington has made its position clear to Tehran.
“If Iran is wise, it will cut a deal,” he said. “The president is willing to make a deal, and the terms are known to them.”
However, he warned that failure to reach an agreement would lead to intensified military action.
“We don’t want to do more militarily than we have to,” he said, adding that the US would “continue with even more intensity” if diplomacy fails.
LIVE: @SecWar, Chairman Caine hold a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury. https://t.co/cyGzeEZPTF
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) March 31, 2026
Caine said US forces have struck more than 11,000 targets inside Iran since the conflict began on February 28, focusing on degrading Tehran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.
“Our joint force continues to systematically degrade and destroy Iran’s capabilities,” he said, citing operations targeting ballistic missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and associated supply chains.
Trump tells allies US won’t help anymore
Earlier, Trump said he was not yet ready to abandon efforts to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route.
He reiterated frustration over the reluctance of allies to join the US-Israel campaign.
“Countries have to come in and take care of it,” Trump told CBS News, while also urging partners to secure energy supplies independently.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, he told countries such as the United Kingdom to “go get your own oil”, suggesting they either purchase US supplies or take control of the strait themselves.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/aPYmL0qspa
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 31, 2026
Hegseth echoed the president’s stance, saying other nations “ought to be prepared to step up” to secure the strategic waterway.
‘Regime change has occurred’
Hegseth said “regime change has occurred” in Iran following the killing of several senior leaders in US-Israeli strikes, echoing earlier remarks by Trump.
However, Iran’s governing structures remain intact.
The Secretary of War also said Washington was aware that countries such as China and Russia were providing intelligence support to Iran, adding that US forces were adjusting deployments to mitigate risks.
“We know exactly what they’re doing,” he said, without providing details.
Pakistan steps up diplomatic efforts
Meanwhile, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran to end the Iran war.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said both the US and Iran have expressed confidence in Islamabad’s to facilitate talks.
Pakistan has hosted meetings with regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, and has offered to facilitate negotiations.
China has backed these efforts, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressing support for Pakistan’s mediation role and calling for renewed dialogue.
Officials say Islamabad has also been relaying messages between the two sides, positioning itself as a key intermediary as the conflict enters its second month.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
The conflict has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran effectively restricting maritime traffic since hostilities began in late February.
On Tuesday, an Iranian drone struck a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai, according to Kuwait’s state news agency.
The United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted missiles and drones launched by Iran, while Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting and destroying drones.
Hegseth said the United States has warned Iran to reopen the strait “or we have options”.
Energy markets and economic impact
The war has driven up global energy prices, with US fuel costs surging sharply.
Data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed average petrol prices in the United States have risen above $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2022, increasing by more than a dollar over the past month.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said prices would fall once the conflict ends, adding that Trump remains committed to expanding US energy output.
