Washington DC: As the US-Iran conflict enters its fourth week, President Donald Trump has introduced a new protagonist into the narrative of how the military campaign began. Speaking in Tennessee on Monday, Trump pointed to his Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, as the primary architect behind the decision to launch strikes, shifting the accountability for a war that has increasingly divided Washington

"Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up," Trump remarked during the event, claiming Hegseth argued that the United States could not allow Tehran to possess a nuclear weapon. 

Why did the US go to war with Iran?

Various officials within the Trump administration continue to offer conflicting justifications. While some insiders suggest that an Israeli strike was inevitable, making US involvement a strategic necessity, others maintain that Iran was on the verge of deploying nuclear capabilities. Trump’s own retelling of the decision-making process was characteristically blunt, describing the move as a "little journey into the Middle East and eliminate a big problem."

 

Is there a secret peace deal in the works?

While the Pentagon, led by a highly visible Pete Hegseth, focuses on dismantling Iran’s drone and missile programs, Donald Trump has simultaneously hinted at back-channel diplomacy. The President mentioned potential negotiations involving his son-in-law, Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff speaking with a "top person" in Iran. Trump suggested that a deal could settle the hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though he added a chilling caveat: "Otherwise, we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out."

Interestingly, Tehran has flatly denied that any such talks are taking place, leaving the international community to wonder if a diplomatic solution is a genuine possibility or a tactical distraction. 

As the original Monday deadline for Iran to meet US demands passes, Trump has officially extended the window by five days. For now, the narrative surrounding the war continues to evolve as rapidly as the strikes themselves, leaving the American public and global markets in a state of high-stakes uncertainty.