RCP Asks Hegseth: What Does U.S. Presence In Mideast Look Like A Year After Winning Iran War?
RCP’s Jonathan Draeger asked Secretary Pete Hegseth at Thursday morning’s Pentagon briefing what the U.S. military presence would look like in the Middle East after a hypothetical victory in the war against Iran.
JONATHAN DRAGER, REALCLEARPOLITICS: As you said, at the end of this war, Iran will be without a missile or drone capability, a navy, or the ability to make nuclear weapons. Since the largest threat and sponsor of terror in the region will be incapacitated, are there plans to move assets and troops out of the Middle East? I guess in a perfect world, a year after the war has ended, what does the military presence in the Middle East look like compared to before the war? PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF WAR: Well, I appreciate the question. I do think when you address a real threat head-on, it creates new options on the other side, right? I think what President Trump refuses to do, which too often this town does, is just sit in the status quo-nobody can do anything about that, they’ve got too much capability, what if this happens, what if that happens. He instead says, what’s in the interest of the American people? It’s going to take some courage. It’s going to take some capabilities. We’re going to have to gather some forces there in order to do it. We’re not going to tell people how many, or how long, or what we’re willing to do or what we’re not willing to do. But if you do that decisively, then out the other end is a recognition that it opens the aperture of what’s possible. I mean, President Trump did the same thing in creating an opportunity for the Abraham Accords. Now you’ve got a situation where a lot of those countries are coming alongside us, recognizing the threat of Iran. So I think our posture in the future will be based first and foremost on our own national security, power projection, the ability to defend our people and our interests-but no doubt working alongside our partners, the president will look at what makes the most sense going forward. Appreciate that question.
My @RCPolitics Q at Pentagon Press Briefing today: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. As you said, at the end of this war, Iran will be without a missile or drone capability, Navy or the ability to make nuclear weapons. since the largest threat and sponsor of terror in the region will be… pic.twitter.com/yTXqxLCwkE
– Jonathan Draeger (@JonathanDraege3) March 19, 2026
