Iranian missiles don't pose a threat to the US, Pete Hegseth admits

Iranian missiles don't pose a threat to the US, Pete Hegseth admits Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:59 Despite Iran steering the terms with its economic leverage, the Pentagon chief insists otherwise US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on 31 March 2026 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Off In his first briefing since 19 March, and more than one month into the US- Israeli war on Iran , US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth openly conceded that Iranian ballistic missiles do not pose a threat to the US mainland, undercutting talk of the "imminent threat" repeated by the White House. Because of that, he explained, the US has put itself on the line to protect its regional assets and allies against Tehran's capabilities, and that is why the president now expects European allies to step up in return. "These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America.