News/Commentary

Reporter challenges Hegseth on Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s electric plants and oil wells without hurting civilians

March 31, 2026 | | Print Article

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, addressed questions surrounding the military operation in Iran.

Speaking with reporters, the pair aimed to clarify the Trump administration’s goals in the area. Fox News senior foreign policy correspondent Gillian Turner asked Hegseth about the contested negotiations with Iran, as well as how the United States will go about attacking the country’s energy infrastructure while mitigating collateral damage.

Watch:

“The U.S. and Iran appear right now publicly to disagree about whether there are these negotiations ongoing. What impact does that have on military strategy? Does it have any bearing at all? And General, the president wrote yesterday that the U.S. might destroy Iran’s electricity-generating plants and oil wells – those are his words – before ending this operation. Is there a way to do either of those things without, like, seriously jeopardizing or seriously harming civilians?” Turner asked.

“On the talks, I can tell you, having been with Steve and Jared and the vice president and Marco and many others yesterday, they are very real. They are ongoing, they are active, and I think gaining strength, and we appreciate that,” Hegseth responded. “As I said in my remarks, we would much prefer to get a deal. If Iran is willing to relinquish the material they have and ambitions they have, open this– Great, that’s the goal, we don’t want to have to do more militarily than we have to. But I didn’t mean it flippantly when I said in the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs. Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime, this regime in charge, is in a better place if they make that deal.”

“We’re working hand in hand, but the primary effort is a deal. We want that deal to be accomplished if at all possible. If not, then we’re prepared to continue,” the secretary concluded, allowing General Caine to answer the second half of her question.

“Thanks for the question. We’re always thinking about those considerations and develop options to be able to mitigate those risks, pursuant to the normal practices that we do in the military.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The question referred to a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump, who, on Monday, reiterated the claim that the United States is in talks with Iran.

Look:

“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran. Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched.’ This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror.’ Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he wrote.

Sierra Marlee
Latest posts by Sierra Marlee (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles