Hegseth Announces Record Recruitment Amid Conflict with Iran

Washington (ANTARA) - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the US military is recording unprecedented recruitment figures. “HISTORIC RECRUITMENT NUMBERS CONTINUE… Just learned that [US Air Force] & [US Space Force] hit their FY26 (Fiscal Year 2026) recruitment targets 5 months ahead of schedule. Surpassing last year’s record,” Hegseth wrote on X. On 28 February, the US and Israel launched attacks on several targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East. Iran and the US held talks in Islamabad on Saturday after US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Tehran for a two-week ceasefire. On Sunday morning, Vice President JD Vance said that Iran and the US failed to reach an agreement during the lengthy negotiations. The US delegation returned to their country without producing an agreement. Trump then announced that the US would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz after the talks failed, and ordered the US Navy to search and intercept ships that pay tolls to pass through the maritime route. The measure took effect on Monday at 14:00 local time, according to the president’s confirmation.