Pete Hegseth says U.S. is "already doing things I can't talk about" to reopen Strait of Hormuz

[0:00] We face a key decision point today that has implications for the global economy [0:04] and potentially could stop nearly four months of conflict with Iran. [0:09] As we come on the air, a preliminary memorandum of understanding [0:12] between Washington and Tehran has yet to be signed. [0:16] But if and when the agreement takes effect, it would extend the ceasefire, [0:20] reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and kick off 60 days of negotiations [0:23] to resolve the other big issues. [0:27] Yet, even as both sides signal, a deal is within reach. [0:31] Hostilities in the region continue. [0:33] This morning, the Israeli Defense Force conducted strikes in Lebanon [0:36] on Beirut's southern suburbs to target the Iranian-backed Hezbollah leadership. [0:41] The IDF called it retaliation for strikes on Israel. [0:44] CBS has learned the potential U.S.-Iran truce includes a vague reference [0:48] to ending the fighting in Lebanon, which may not be enough for Iran's leaders. [0:53] And Iran's failure to cut off support for its proxy force Hezbollah [0:57] may not be enough for America's partner, Israel. [1:01] For the latest, we begin this morning with Secretary of Defense, [1:05] Pik Hegseth, who joins us from Tennessee. [1:08] Mr. Secretary, welcome to Face the Nation. [1:13] Good morning, Margaret. Thank you. [1:15] So, did the Hezbollah-Israel strikes disrupt any of the plans [1:20] to have this memorandum signed today? [1:22] Are we on track for a Sunday signing? [1:24] From all I know, we are on track. [1:29] It's not a matter of if. [1:30] It's a matter of when. [1:31] There's logistics involved into how these things happen. [1:34] Ultimately, obviously, we're attuned to what's happening with Hezbollah firing rockets [1:39] into northern Israel, which they need to stop doing, and Iran needs to encourage them [1:44] to stop doing that in very adamant ways. [1:46] And Israel was very measured in its response, understanding that a deal is on – [1:50] we're on the verge of a deal. [1:52] So, I don't expect that to disrupt. [1:54] I also expect more robust talks there. [1:57] The negotiations business is not really mine, but I think those talks will continue. [2:01] And if Iran wants this to hold, they need to pull back Hezbollah, no doubt. [2:06] So, this memorandum would be an extension of the ceasefire, as you said, with a promise [2:11] to keep talking. [2:13] Given how clear President Trump has been that he wants to end combat, will the U.S. troops [2:19] come back home? [2:20] Will those two aircraft carriers be pulled back? [2:25] Well, what, Margaret, what I would say the president's been most clear about is that Iran [2:29] will never have a nuclear weapon, never, full stop. [2:32] And this deal, as we talk about aspects of the deal, some of which have come up publicly [2:36] are totally wrong, it is – it's performance-based. [2:40] No money released to Iran until they perform. [2:43] There's no trust in verify. [2:45] There's no trust here, and we're going to verify everything. [2:49] Nuclear material will be destroyed and removed. [2:51] The nuclear program will be dismantled. [2:53] The straits will be open. [2:54] No tolling. [2:56] This is – this is not a – the JCPOA was a path to a bomb. [3:00] What this deal will be will be a wall to a bomb. [3:04] And that was the objective from the beginning, very clear from the beginning. [3:07] So as far as our military posture, we'll maintain what we need to. [3:10] The blockade has been a devastating success for us and impact on the Iranians. [3:15] So think of – think of this chain of events militarily, just for a second. [3:18] You had 45 days of overwhelming combat, which Iran could not manage. [3:22] And their Navy's gone, Air Force gone, air defenses. [3:25] Then it led to a blockade, which was impenetrable now for a couple of months. [3:30] And then you had the Underground Project Freedom, which allowed now 125 million barrels of oil [3:36] to transit the straits, showing that we control the straits. [3:39] And then we did two more days of bombing because they weren't really coming to the table. [3:43] So it's been military pressure and strength from President Trump that's compelled Iran [3:48] to this deal, which will be performance-based when it's signed shortly. [3:51] Right. [3:52] But we're not at that deal yet. [3:53] We're not even at the memorandum. [3:54] That's what we're waiting to be – waiting on being signed today. [3:57] The U.S. and Israeli militaries, no doubt, did devastate the conventional military, [4:02] as you are arguing there. [4:04] But the IRGC terrorist-controlled regime, they control this country. [4:09] They would be pocketing the financial benefits of being able to sell the oil if the blockade [4:14] ends, as you just indicated. [4:16] They didn't capitulate. [4:19] They're negotiating. [4:20] So how do you reassure allies who are in the region and say they still feel they are at [4:26] risk? [4:27] Are you keeping the force posture in place through the 60 days of negotiations and beyond? [4:35] Oh, we'll make sure the military option is there. [4:38] And that's the big difference between this and JCPOA and the way Obama did it. [4:43] Obama, they begged Iran for a deal. [4:45] And we bombed Iran and then put in a blockade and then ran ships through and then have restarted [4:52] when necessary to ensure that they come to the table for a great deal. [4:57] So our military posture will be whatever it needs to be to ensure they're compelled over [5:01] this 60 days through the memorandum of understanding that they live up to what they said they would [5:07] do. [5:07] The document says Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, won't seek one, won't buy one, won't [5:13] have one. [5:13] JCPOA said that too. [5:15] In 60 days, there'll be negotiations to make that final. [5:17] But they didn't have the threat of military force the way that we do that Iran respects [5:21] in a very way that their regime is more devastated, more devastating, excuse me, more devastated [5:27] than it's ever been in its 47 years. [5:31] And that's why they're at the table. [5:32] So the huge difference is we did this from a position of strength. [5:36] President Trump led with military might. [5:38] That military might will stay as long as necessary. [5:40] If the blockade comes off, then you pull back and you allow shipping to flow, just like [5:45] Iran needs to allow shipping to go through the straits. [5:47] But we can snap that blockade back at any point, and they can't do anything about it. [5:53] And Iran knows that. [5:54] And that's why we have the leverage in these talks, and we hope they'll go well. [5:56] We really do. [5:57] Well, as I understand it, the first part of this deal would involve the clearing and reopening [6:03] of the Strait of Hormuz. [6:04] How quickly will the U.S. blockade on Iran end? [6:09] How quickly will they be able to sell their oil? [6:15] Immediately is what the president has said, and that will be our expectation of the Iranians, [6:19] is that it's not us that... [6:19] So tomorrow you'll end the blockade if they sign it today. [6:22] ...is the problem here. [6:23] So when it... [6:25] Again, it's performance-based, Margaret. [6:26] So we're not going to... [6:28] Unlike Obama, President Trump is smart about these things. [6:30] He's not going to just give it away. [6:32] So ultimately, the blockade will stay as the Strait opens, and then the blockade will [6:37] open, and then the Straits open. [6:39] And if that takes, you know, 30 days to fully mature, or two weeks to fully mature, but it [6:44] will start immediately, as the president has said. [6:46] And by the way, I think your viewers need to remember, Project Freedom never stopped, [6:51] and we've run 125 million barrels of oil through the Straits, and Iran couldn't do anything about [6:55] it. [6:56] How many ships from Iran have transit our blockade? [6:58] Zero. [6:59] Zero. [6:59] We have controlled the Straits this entire time. [7:02] Right, but you're going to negotiate with them to re-open it. [7:06] So, OK, you're saying immediately, but Secretary Rubio had said the U.S. would help to clear [7:11] mines from the Strait of Hormuz. [7:13] You just used 30 days as, like, a period of time. [7:16] Can you clear the mines and remove the security threats in the strait within 30 days? [7:21] We can do any of those things within 30 days in a permissive environment, so the ball is [7:27] in Iran's court at some level to agree to this deal. [7:28] So we would get back to pre-war shipping? [7:30] We're already doing things I can't talk about on this program and to ensure that safe passage [7:40] happens as quickly as possible. [7:41] So we're all over this. [7:42] We know exactly what the dynamics are. [7:45] Iran probably doesn't because they can't see and sense their capabilities around the strait, [7:50] especially these last couple nights were very devastating for them as far as their ability [7:53] to understand what's going through the strait. [7:56] So if they have capabilities and can do it, great. [7:58] If not, if international partners who've said they want to step up, want to step up and contribute, [8:03] great. [8:04] But once this deal is signed, our expectation is that Iran will stop shooting, you know, [8:10] drones at commercial shipping. [8:11] It's been them shooting at shipping the entire time. [8:13] Yeah, they did that just on Friday. [8:15] And in fact, a drone collided with an Apache helicopter last week. [8:18] They fired drones into Bahrain. [8:20] They fired missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan just a few days ago. [8:23] They still have the capacity to hurt our friends and partners. [8:25] And that's why you have to deal with these folks with strength and not just ask them [8:30] at the table. [8:30] And it's the military strength that compelled them to this point where they're making a [8:34] deal which would be great for the security of the United States of America. [8:37] And that's why this is such a big moment. [8:40] And only President Trump's strength and clarity of mission to say no nuclear weapon will ensure [8:45] that now and underneath the MOU, the terms are set that are performance-based for Iran [8:51] to ensure that they never get a nuclear weapon. [8:53] That's what's critical. [8:54] So once the 60 days of negotiations, and I know that could be extended, start, that's [8:59] when the nuclear program gets dealt with. [9:01] President Trump posted on social media Saturday that, quote, [9:05] at the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the nuclear dust. [9:10] That's how he refers to the highly enriched uranium under the bombed sites. [9:15] He said we'll downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran or the U.S. [9:19] Is the goal, is the plan to have the U.N. do all of that? [9:25] I don't think the U.N. has been really effective in anything here. [9:28] The weapons inspectors on the IAEA? [9:30] We'll handle it as we need to. [9:32] Ultimately, that could be part of it. [9:34] The reality is, is President Trump has already set back Iran's nuclear program in devastating ways, [9:40] from Midnight Hammer to this campaign, to ways that we know how far back we've set them. [9:47] We're watching that material as we have this entire time. [9:49] And any arrangement, as I said from the outset of the program, will be performance and metrics-based. [9:55] You'll have inspections. [9:56] You'll have oversight, whether they're U.S., whether they're international. [9:59] But it'll be a throttle set by the United States through our negotiators with the military and strength as the guarantor of this. [10:07] If Iran does not want to comply, then they can deal with the War Department again, [10:10] which we'd rather not have to do, and President Trump would rather not have to do. [10:14] But they know the type of devastating effects that have occurred on their military and on their air defenses and on their capabilities. [10:22] They don't want that again. [10:23] And so when we restruct twice, don't discount how important it was that we were willing to show we will restart this, [10:29] and we will set you back even further. [10:31] And that was part of the reason why Iran came to the table, [10:34] and we're going to finish this initial MOU to set the clock. [10:38] So that's the umbrella here, is we'll work with you to remove that material, [10:43] or you'll downblend that material. [10:44] But you're not going to have any of that material. [10:46] And anything you do get will be based on oversight and performance. [10:50] And Iran understands that, and that's why I think, ultimately, this is something that can and will succeed. [10:56] Well, those are really important details that still have to be negotiated. [10:59] When I understood what you just said there, you said the IAEA could be involved. [11:03] We have reported here at CBS that American military planners had discussed contingencies [11:08] with U.S. forces and the Department of Energy working together to secure their nuclear materials. [11:14] Are you saying that at the negotiating table, the United States is going to say [11:20] the U.S. military has to go in and clean up the nuclear dust? [11:26] Well, I'm not going to say on a Sunday morning television program [11:29] what we will or will not do in any context. [11:32] We'll have all options on the table. [11:34] And that's what we've said to President Trump and the American people and the world [11:36] and the Iranians from the beginning. [11:38] The entirety of the might of the U.S. War Department is prepared to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon. [11:44] We can do it the midnight hammer way. [11:45] We can do it the epic fury way if we need to. [11:49] Ultimately, Iran will need to destroy it and remove it, downblend it, [11:54] and we will be involved, whether physically or otherwise, to ensure that that happens. [11:58] Could be the U.S. military. [11:59] Could be another option. [12:01] I think our negotiators, our world-class negotiators are going to have a lot of options. [12:05] The U.S. military is good at these types of things. [12:07] So is the Energy Department. [12:08] And so working with the Iranians to ensure it's destroyed and removed and their program [12:12] is dismantled will be center. [12:13] Well, it's an important point for those who are members of the U.S. military to understand [12:19] whether you are saying ground troops would be involved in cleaning up nuclear dust. [12:27] You're saying that. [12:28] You're trying to put words in a mouth to create a headline. [12:30] What I'm saying is we have plans. [12:32] No, we have plans for everything. [12:34] And should the president need a compel option, we have compel options and many different types [12:40] of compel options. [12:41] But right now, we've set the conditions for 60 days to ensure that that material is downblended, [12:46] destroyed or removed. [12:48] Whatever the president decides is in the best interest of the United States of America. [12:51] And the War Department is there to support that effort. [12:54] Let me ask you about Venezuela, because there was also big news within the past few days. [12:59] President Trump said the U.S. military killed Nino Guerrero, the leader of the Venezuelan [13:04] gang Trende Aragua, or TDA, in an airstrike earlier this week. [13:09] He had been indicted in the Southern District of New York for many crimes. [13:14] I'm wondering, why go with a strike option? [13:17] Why not snatch and grab him and make him face justice in a U.S. court like you did with [13:21] Nicolas Maduro? [13:23] I was going to say, we did that. [13:25] We've shown we can do that when we did it with Nicolas Maduro. [13:28] And because of that, it created the conditions where, in partnership with the Venezuelan [13:32] government, this is a huge deal. [13:34] I mean, they invited our military in because they have a foreign terrorist organization [13:38] on their soil in Trende Aragua, the founder and leader. [13:42] And we were able to identify where he was and kill him, just like we would kill al-Qaida [13:46] or ISIS, and we did in the Middle East. [13:48] We treat these foreign terrorist organizations the same way, just like we do with drug boats [13:53] when we identify they're run by those FTOs. [13:55] So that was a great development. [13:56] I mean, think about that. [13:57] President Trump had the foresight to seize Maduro, change the relationship. [14:01] We have a totally different energy dynamic around the world. [14:03] By the way, the way energy flows today, the straits will be nowhere near as relevant [14:07] one to two years from now. [14:09] Because of the foresight of President Trump, he's made us energy independent at home. [14:13] We're a net exporter. [14:15] Now Venezuela, through our partnerships, now we're killing foreign terrorist leaders who [14:19] have terrorized the American people. [14:20] The amount of drugs and gangs that came from Trende Aragua and the United States of America. [14:23] Prices are pretty high right now. [14:25] It's a huge deal. [14:26] So I don't know that the independence is helping people at the pump. [14:30] They are. [14:31] We'll talk about that later in the program. [14:33] But I want to come back to the Venezuela point. [14:35] Given that the U.S. military just carried out this operation, should Americans understand [14:41] that the U.S. will remain militarily involved in Venezuela? [14:45] Should they expect similar operations in places like Ecuador and Guatemala, where the U.S. [14:50] is working with their governments? [14:54] Yes, they should. [14:55] It's called the America's Counter Cartel Coalition, ACCC. [14:58] And we're forming it with partner governments all around Central and South America to go after, [15:02] defeat, and destroy foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels. [15:06] And all those countries you named are stepping up to work on partnerships with the United States, [15:11] where we work with their governments and their militaries with their special capabilities and [15:15] our special capabilities to hunt terrorist networks in our own hemisphere, just like we [15:20] showed we were very good at with ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Middle East for 20 years. [15:24] It's an incredible reinforcement of the Monroe Doctrine, now the Dunro Doctrine. [15:28] We're taking back control of our hemisphere and ensuring the poisoning and attacks on the [15:32] American people. And so it's a beautiful, it's a beautiful military thing to behold. [15:37] Other countries coming to us to work with us, and we're going to take full advantage of it. [15:41] Let me ask you before you go about what is going on with U.S. [15:45] munitions and stockpiles here. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy was on this program a few weeks ago. [15:50] He made a plea, not just for more interceptors, but for the ability to produce them, [15:55] for friendly governments to be able to produce patriots. Some Republican lawmakers support this [16:03] idea. Do you? Nobody makes better and more munitions than the United States of America, [16:09] and we are open to co-production wherever we can. And because of this administration, [16:13] we're supercharging our arsenal of freedom, building more, building faster, opening up the [16:17] Pentagon, ripping through the Pentagon bureaucracy to force industry to move faster. [16:22] But there are crises, there is a crisis with those stockpiles right now. [16:26] There is a crisis with those stockpiles right now in private industry. [16:30] That is a manufacturing story that the media wants to peddle. [16:33] And ultimately, we are, our stockpiles are great, and they only get stronger because of [16:38] the way this president has. [16:40] You testified under oath that it would take years to rebuild those stockpiles. [16:42] It was the Biden administration that gave away munitions to the, you don't have to read [16:46] back to me what I testified. I speculated some munitions take more time than others. [16:51] We've got lots of them. We're building more than ever before. [16:54] The Biden administration gave away hundreds of billions to Ukraine. [16:57] And so President Trump had to refill, and he has, and we have in real time. [17:02] So the answer to Zelenskyy's request is a no or a yes? [17:08] Ultimately, we've worked with them, and Ukraine is buying munitions that Europe pays for. [17:14] And it's great to see Europe finally step up and pay for those. [17:17] OK. Well, he was asking for the ability to produce, but I'll leave it there for today. [17:23] Secretary Higgs, thank you for joining us.