Pete Hegseth

"We hope and believe the ceasefire will hold," said Hegseth, who also thanked Israel for being a "brave, capable, and willing ally on this battlefield." 

Trump has threatened to rain "hell" on Tehran if it did not make a deal by the end of Tuesday that would allow traffic to start moving again through the vital route for global energy supplies.

After ejecting from the jet, the officer sent a message over his radio saying “Power be to God,” according to Trump who added that it "sounded like something a Muslim would say."

CNN's sources, after reviewing the US intelligence assessment, determined that Trump's two-or three-week prediction for ending the war was wholly unrealistic. 

Among the names being discussed are FBI Director Kash Patel, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the Atlantic said, adding that the timing was 'uncertain.'

Trump, who has previously offered shifting timelines and objectives for the war, said in a televised speech on Wednesday that the war could escalate if Iran did not give in to Washington's terms.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has moved quickly to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump's national security agenda.

Iran has yet to respond to the president’s 15-point proposal, according to two sources familiar with the details who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.

Hegseth's Morgan Stanley broker contacted BlackRock in February about making a multimillion-dollar investment, while the Pentagon's spokesperson called the story "entirely false and fabricated."

While the decision has not yet been made, Trump remains open to the idea, US officials told WSJ. However, he is taking into account the danger such an operation would pose to US troops.