Pete Hegseth declares 'decisive' victory in Iran, credits divine providence: 'God deserves all the glory'

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, April 08, 2026

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared a "decisive military victory" in Iran amid a two-week ceasefire, crediting U.S. military competence and divine providence during a Wednesday morning press briefing at the Pentagon.

"Our troops, our American warriors, deserve the credit for this day, but God deserves all the glory. Tens of thousands of sorties, refuelings and strikes carried out under the protection of divine providence; a massive effort with miraculous protection," he said.

"'Dude 44 Bravo' spoke for all of us: 'God is good,'" he added, referencing the call sign and reported message of the downed American pilot when he was rescued Sunday after his F-15E was shot down approximately 200 miles within the Iranian interior last Friday.

Hegseth: "God deserves all the glory. Tens of thousands of sorties, refuelings, and strikes, carried out under the protection of divine providence. A massive effort with miraculous protection." pic.twitter.com/AGnz40SF4c

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 8, 2026

The briefing, which Hegseth held jointly with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, highlighted the last-minute agreement reached late Tuesday establishing a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel.

The deal enabled President Donald Trump to step back from his threat to devastate Iran's "whole civilization" if they failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening.

Calling it "a big day for world peace," Hegseth said, "Iran wants it to happen. They've had enough. Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. A capital V." He went on to assert that in less than 40 days, "CENTCOM, using less than 10 percent of America's total combat power, dismantled one of the world's largest militaries."
 
"The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism proved utterly incapable of defending itself, its people or its territory," he said.
 
The ceasefire, which was mediated by Pakistan, found support from world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office backed the move while clarifying that it does not apply to Israel's ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
 
Both Iran and Oman are permitted to impose fees on vessels passing through the crucial Strait of Hormuz under the agreement, according to a regional official who spoke to The Associated Press.
 
Caine, who said the U.S. military struck more than 13,000 targets since Feb. 28, echoed Hegseth's claim that CENTCOM has left the Iranian military devastated, but warned that the U.S. is prepared to resume hostilities if Iran fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire.

Reports emerged early Wednesday of attacks in Iran and Gulf Arab countries, prompting concerns regarding the stability of the deal that Vice President JD Vance has described as "fragile," according to the AP.
 
Hegseth, an Evangelical whose home church is affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), has repeatedly invoked divine providence and biblical rhetoric to imply God's favor rests upon the U.S. actions against the Iranian regime.
 
During a prayer service at the Pentagon last month, Hegseth quoted from the imprecatory psalms and read from a U.S. military chaplain's prayer that used language reminiscent of the Old Testament to invoke divine wrath against the enemies of the U.S.
 
Hegseth likened the rescue of the downed American pilot to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during a press briefing at the White House on Easter Monday.

"Shot down on a Friday, Good Friday," he said. "Hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, and rescued on Sunday. Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday."
 
"A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for, a nation rejoicing. God is good. … We leave no man behind, and that is not luck. It is the result of unmatched training, superior technology, and unbreakable warrior ethos, and sheer American grit."
 
When Trump was asked during the same briefing if he believes God supports the U.S. in the Iran war, he said, "I do, because God is good, because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of."