US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the coming days would be decisive in the war against Iran, revealing on Tuesday that he visited American troops in the Middle East over the weekend to witness ongoing military operations and assess the situation on the ground. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2026. (REUTERS) US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2026. US is confronting Russia, China: HegsethHegseth also said the US is well aware of what China and Russia are doing to help Iran and are confronting those efforts where necessary. Asked about reports of Russia and China aiding ‌Iran, Hegseth said, “As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they’re doing, what they are or are not doing.

Source: Indian Express March 31, 2026 16:34 UTC