Iran latest: Hegseth declares U.S. victory in Iran amid ceasefire agreement in World Economy News 08/04/2026 U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the U.S. had secured a “decisive” military victory over Iran, arguing that Tehran’s missile program had been largely destroyed. In a live briefing, Hegseth said Iran can “no longer build missiles” and no longer had a military industrial base. He added that Iran’s military had been rendered “ineffective for years to come.” Hegseth’s comments came after the U.S. and Iran reached a deal to end fighting for two weeks on Tuesday. Trump had earlier threatened to eradicate Iranian “civilization” if the country did not open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. In one of his first social media posts since reaching the ceasefire, President Donald Trump pledged to work Iran, saying the U.S. had determined that Tehran has “gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!” Weeks of American attacks on Iran have resulted in the deaths of several top officials in the country, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, although media reports have suggested that Tehran has replaced these with other like-minded leaders. Trump added that “there will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried […] Nuclear ’Dust.’” Reducing Iran’s ability to build and enrich a nuclear weapon has been among the stated reasons for the joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran in late February. Iran “is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance,” Trump claimed. Earlier, U.S. Vice President JD Vance called the deal between the U.S., Iran, and Israel a “fragile truce,” as strikes continued to be reported across the Persian Gulf. Speaking at an event in Hungary, Vance suggested that the accord was being misrepresented within Iran, although he did not go into more detail about the claim. However, Vance said if Iran negotiates in “good faith,” a more permanent halt to hostilities may be found. “That’s a big if. And ultimately, it’s up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision,” Vance said. Pakistan mediates ceasefire Trump said on social media that the ceasefire followed conversations with leaders from Pakistan, which has served as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran. He added that the U.S. received a 10-point proposal from Iran which provides a workable basis for negotiations, and reiterated his claims that Washington had “already met and exceeded all Military objectives” and the “two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.” Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran would “cease their defensive operation” and would make “safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz possible if shipping is done in coordination with the Iranian military. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited U.S. and Iranian officials to Islamabad for talks on Friday. Vance did not specify if he would be attending the negotiations, but said Trump is “impatient to make progress” in the discussions. Trump said Iran had agreed to much of the 15 points reportedly put forward in a U.S. peace proposal, and will be discussing “Tariff and Sanctions relief.” He also warned that any country supplying military weapons to Iran will face immediate 50% tariffs “on any and all goods sold” to the U.S. “There will be no exclusions or exemptions,” Trump said. Israel, who launched a j