(DCNF)—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” that President Donald Trump’s nuclear deal with Iran is still “on the table” as the National Security Council (NSC) heads to the situation room.
Following Trump’s post on Truth Social urging “everyone to immediately evacuate Tehran,” reports indicated the president had called the NSC together as he prepared to leave the G7 summit early. Discussing the situation, Fox News host Jesse Watters asked Hegseth if Trump was still “aiming” for a nuclear deal with Iran, to which he responded, “of course.”
“The president, as he said today, his position has not changed. What you’re watching in real time is peace through strength and America first. Our job is to be strong. We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal,” Hegseth said. “We certainly hope that’s what happens here.”
“America first means we’re going to defend American personnel and American interests. So when you see jets and you see air defense assets and counter UAS [Unmanned Aircraft System] assets, that’s because my job as the secretary of Defense is to ensure that our people are safe and that we’re strong so that we can set the conditions for a deal,” Hegseth added. “President Trump’s made it clear it’s on the table. The question is whether Iran will take it.”
Tensions broke out between Israel and Iran on Thursday after Israel launched preemptive strikes against multiple military targets in Iran. Following the initial reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the country’s “Rising Lion” operation, saying it would continue until the “threat” of Iran’s potential nuclear weapon is removed.
Watters then asked whether “all options are on the table” for the Iranians if a deal is still possible, asking Hegseth what a potential agreement could now look like.
“What it looks like right now is we’re vigilant, we’re prepared, and we’ve messaged consistently from the beginning that we’re in the region to defend our people and our assets,” Hegseth said. “Israel took an action out of self-defense. We believe that Iran, as the president has said from the beginning, should not have a nuclear weapon. That position hasn’t changed.”
“They can give it up peacefully. That position hasn’t changed. As a result, right now, we’ve got assets in the region, and we’re going to defend them. We’re going to be strong in the process,” Hegseth said. “So people are reading into a lot of aspects right now. We’re strong, we’re prepared, we’re defensive and President Trump hopes there can be peace.”
As Iran and Israel have continued trading strikes since Thursday, reports on Monday indicated Iran may be open to negotiations after its military leadership and nuclear sites were heavily damaged.
Netanyahu told ABC News shortly after, however, that Israel would not pursue peace talks, accusing Iran of wanting to “keep on building their nuclear weapons and building their mass ballistic missile arsenal.”
Following Israel’s first strike, Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement saying the U.S. was not involved. Trump later clarified that while the U.S. did not participate, he had been aware of the strikes in advance.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Fox News/”Jesse Watters Primetime”)
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
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Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
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Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
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Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
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