At a press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday (19), U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth criticized European allies for not helping the country in the war against Iran.
The conflict, which began on February 28 after Israel and the U.S. attacked a school in southern Iran, has already resulted in more than 2,000 Iranians killed in American and Israeli bombings.
In retaliation, Iran has reinforced the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and continues to carry out attacks on U.S. installations in countries allied with the United States.
The situation has caused oil prices to rise लगातार, fueling fears of a global crisis in the fossil fuel market.
European countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany have stated that they will not send ships to the strait to break the blockade and have refused other calls from Donald Trump for a joint attack.
Pete Hegseth, in turn, called the European allies “ungrateful” and sought to highlight the U.S. success in the war.
“A regime like this, which refuses to abandon its nuclear ambitions, is not just a regional problem — it is a direct threat to America, freedom, and civilization in the world, and to our ungrateful allies in Europe,” said the secretary.
“Even segments of our own press should be saying one thing to President Trump: ‘Thank you,’” continued Pete Hegseth.
“Thank you for having the courage to prevent this terrorist state from holding the world hostage with missiles while it builds — or attempts to build — a nuclear bomb. Thank you for doing the work of the free world,” he stated.
Pete Hegseth’s comments came after the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, abruptly resigned on Wednesday (18).
“I cannot, in good conscience, support the ongoing war against Iran. Iran did not pose any imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent said in his statement.
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BREAKING: “The world, the Middle East, our ungrateful allies in Europe, even segments of our own press, should be saying one thing to President Trump. ‘Thank you.'”— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth pic.twitter.com/j0w7xoEyfG
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 19, 2026
