US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States will strike Iran 'hard tonight' and expressed hope Iran will make a 'good decision,' according to his remarks reported by Israeli sources minutes ago. The statement reinforces the administration's threat of immediate military action against Iranian facilities.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States will strike Iran 'hard tonight,' adding he hopes Iran makes a 'good decision.' The remark, reported by Israeli sources just minutes before this update, is the latest in a rapid cascade of official threats from the administration, all published by The Zioneer within a few minutes around 20:44 UTC. Hegseth's earlier statements in that time frame used the phrase 'knock-knock-knock bombs' on key targets, and Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal reported that 'major facilities' would be hit, citing a source.
At 20:44 UTC, the desk reported Hegseth's first confirmation of ongoing strikes (version 4), specifies on 'knock-knock-knock' bombs (version 6), and framing of the strikes as negotiation tools. The later version posted at the same timestamp used the threat to make a deal or face bombs 'tapping' facilities. This newest comment—expressing hope Tehran makes a 'good decision'—adds a conditional element: the US wants a diplomatic off-ramp.
The White House and Pentagon threat stream has come through single-source Israeli reports and unnamed US officials, as The Zioneer documented earlier today: President Trump said the US struck Iran 'very hard' yesterday and vowed to do so again today, and unnamed officials briefed that a major bomber-fighter offensive is imminent. The sources are consistent but are not yet on the record.
It remains unverified whether Iran has responded to the ultimatum, and whether tonight's strikes—announced as underway since 20:44 UTC—have actually begun or hit the stated targets. No independent confirmation of a 'good decision' by Tehran has been received.
8 developments
- ConfirmedHegseth warns US will hit Iran hard on American terms
- ConfirmedAmit Segal: US will strike 'major facilities' in Iran
- DevelopingHegseth says US will keep large forces in region, reinstate Iran siege if commitments unmet
- StrongHegseth says US on track to sign deal with Iran, expects talks to continue
Source and signal
- Internal intake