Iran live updates: Hegseth says Trump 'kicked their teeth in'

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a Tuesday morning press conference that the U.S. had achieved "a historic military victory," over Iran, as he faced a House impeachment resolution introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie.

Hegseth defended his tenure as Pentagon chief, including the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign against in Iran, which began in February, and last summer's 12-day U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran.

"More than 13,000 targets struck. Their navy sunk. Their air force grounded. Their defense industrial base gone," Hegseth said, listing military statistics from the conflict to date.

"More than 80% of their nuclear industrial base gone. Their military in ruin. The ironclad blockade unbroken. We control the Strait of Hormuz. Crazy Islamists in Tehran will never, ever have a nuclear weapon. A historic effort only made possible by a courageous commander in chief," Hegseth added, referring to President Donald Trump.

"He did not kick the can. He kicked their teeth in," Hegseth said of the president.

"We will not apologize for destroying the capabilities of a regime that chants, 'Death to America," Hegseth continued. "And if that regime makes one wrong move, as the president said, we remain locked and loaded with the full weight and lethality of Central Command."

President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. will maintain the "status quo" with Iran, indicating that he would do so "at the behest" of America's regional partners.

Trump spoke with reporters after meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, describing Iran as a "failing country."

The president also indicated that there are talks underway, adding that the conversations seem to be going well, saying there's a "good chance" that the war could end soon.

"And they're talking to us and they're talking very politely. Then we'll see what happens. But there's a good chance that that could get ended," Trump said.

"At the conclusion of the military engagement, the American people and the people of the world will be far safer and more secure than they've been in many, many years because Iran was killing many people," Trump said.

"We have some great allies there, and we have to make sure they're not hurt, and they would be hurt. They are right now a lot safer than they were six months ago, because Iran's been very much decapitated," Trump continued.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart and Nicholas Kerr

President Donald Trump said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has "won the war in Iran" during a press briefing on Monday.

The remarks came hours after Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth.

"He certainly, I think, he's won the war in Iran, but he's certainly winning the war," Trump said of Hegseth. "Iran would love to make a deal. And they've been obliterated, their navy and their air force."

The president said that he doesn't believe military action is "a very necessary thing" in Iran at this time but that the U.S. is "locked and loaded."

"Should there be any change with respect to developments in the Middle East, the United States of America is fully locked and loaded with the best equipment ever made, and we don't think there's going to be any reason to use it, however," Trump said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei addressed the ongoing efforts to reach a deal with the U.S. during his Monday press conference.

"We have made our position transparent. Iran's proposal, which has become known as Iran's two-day plan, is itself a demonstration of Iran's utmost goodwill. Could we have put it more reasonably than this?" he said to reporters.

"If the United States implements Iran's demands, positive developments will be witnessed across the region within two days and security in the Strait of Hormuz will be restored. Can the other side find or propose a plan more reasonable than this?" he said.

Baqaei denied continued U.S. allegations that Tehran is working toward a nuclear weapon. "Last year in June, they announced that they destroyed Iran's entire nuclear program," Baqaei said of the joint U.S.-Israeli 12-day war with Iran, which culminated with the American Midnight Hammer operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

"They claim to be monitoring all of the Iranians' movements and comings and goings, and at the same time, they spend money so generously to collect information regarding Iran's nuclear program," Baqaei added. "The goal is to keep alive the lie upon which they impose a war on the world."

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule