{"id":427805,"date":"2026-03-02T20:50:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T13:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/market-news\/2026\/03\/us-sec-of-war-hegseth-iran-cannot-have-nuclear-weapons-and-takes-guts-to-enforce-that\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T20:50:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T13:50:10","slug":"us-sec-of-war-hegseth-iran-cannot-have-nuclear-weapons-and-takes-guts-to-enforce-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/market-news\/us-sec-of-war-hegseth-iran-cannot-have-nuclear-weapons-and-takes-guts-to-enforce-that-427805\/","title":{"rendered":"US Sec of War Hegseth: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and takes guts to enforce that"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"78\">Comments from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"80\" data-end=\"466\">\n<li data-start=\"80\" data-end=\"151\">\n<p data-start=\"82\" data-end=\"151\">U.S. will conclude operations under \u201cAmerica First\u201d conditions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"80\" data-end=\"151\">\n<p data-start=\"82\" data-end=\"151\"> Iran was building a shield for nuclear ambition<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"80\" data-end=\"151\">\n<p data-start=\"82\" data-end=\"151\">This is not an endless war.  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"152\" data-end=\"199\">\n<p data-start=\"154\" data-end=\"199\">Iran operation will include casualties.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"200\" data-end=\"268\">\n<p data-start=\"202\" data-end=\"268\">Operation is not directed at Iraq and is not an endless war.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"269\" data-end=\"378\">\n<p data-start=\"271\" data-end=\"378\">U.S. mission in Iran is to destroy Iran\u2019s missiles, navy, and deny Tehran nuclear weapons capability.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"269\" data-end=\"378\">\n<p>Conflict is not a regime-change war, although he noted the regime \u201cdid change.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"269\" data-end=\"378\">\n<p data-start=\"381\" data-end=\"466\">We did not start this war, but under Trump we are finishing it<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"269\" data-end=\"378\">\n<p data-start=\"381\" data-end=\"466\">Iran has long range strike capability<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"468\" data-end=\"663\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The top US general Caine:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This is not a single overnight operation.<\/li>\n<li>We expect to take additional losses.<\/li>\n<li>This is major combat operations<\/li>\n<li>Flow of forces to reaching continues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"468\" data-end=\"663\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The flow of news will be focused on the war over the near term.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"468\" data-end=\"663\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Some defense companies that are beneficiaries:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>RTX Corp; +6.34%<\/li>\n<li>Lockheed Martin +5.15%<\/li>\n<li>Northrup Grumman: +4.64%<\/li>\n<li>Generarl Dynamic +2.23%<\/li>\n<li>Exxon +4.52%<\/li>\n<li>Shell +1.58%<\/li>\n<li>Chevron +3.56%<\/li>\n<li>Barrick Mining +2.21<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"241\" data-end=\"268\">What about the top U.S. Defense ETFs<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"270\" data-end=\"341\"> ITA \u2014 The industry benchmark<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"342\" data-end=\"387\">Best for: Large-cap U.S. defense exposure<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"552\">\n<li data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"470\">\n<p data-start=\"391\" data-end=\"470\">Largest defense ETF (~$15B+ assets) <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"471\" data-end=\"514\">\n<p data-start=\"473\" data-end=\"514\">Tracks U.S. aerospace &amp; defense companies<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"552\">\n<p data-start=\"517\" data-end=\"552\">Heavy exposure to prime contractors<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"589\">Top holdings typically include:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"590\" data-end=\"679\">\n<li data-start=\"590\" data-end=\"609\">\n<p data-start=\"592\" data-end=\"609\">Lockheed Martin<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"610\" data-end=\"628\">\n<p data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"628\">RTX (Raytheon)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"629\" data-end=\"649\">\n<p data-start=\"631\" data-end=\"649\">Northrop Grumman<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"650\" data-end=\"660\">\n<p data-start=\"652\" data-end=\"660\">Boeing<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"679\">\n<p data-start=\"663\" data-end=\"679\">General Dynamics<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"681\" data-end=\"778\">\u2705 Institutional favorite<br \/>\n\u2705 Direct play on Pentagon spending<br \/>\n\u26a0\ufe0f More concentrated in mega caps<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"785\" data-end=\"851\">PPA \u2014 Balanced exposure<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"852\" data-end=\"896\">Best for: Diversified defense allocation<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"898\" data-end=\"1052\">\n<li data-start=\"898\" data-end=\"926\">\n<p data-start=\"900\" data-end=\"926\">Tracks SPADE Defense Index<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"927\" data-end=\"996\">\n<p data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"996\">Expense ratio ~0.58\u20130.61%<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"997\" data-end=\"1052\">\n<p data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1052\">Modified weighting reduces dominance of largest firms<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1078\">Why investors use it<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1079\" data-end=\"1156\">\n<li data-start=\"1079\" data-end=\"1112\">\n<p data-start=\"1081\" data-end=\"1112\">Better diversification than ITA<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1156\">\n<p data-start=\"1115\" data-end=\"1156\">Includes suppliers + mid-tier contractors<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1158\" data-end=\"1223\">\u2705 More balanced risk profile<br \/>\n\u2705 Broad defense ecosystem exposure<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1230\" data-end=\"1300\">XAR \u2014 Equal-weight strategy<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1301\" data-end=\"1345\">Best for: Growth &amp; smaller defense names<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1347\" data-end=\"1612\">\n<li data-start=\"1347\" data-end=\"1429\">\n<p data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1429\">Equal-weighted holdings (unique structure) <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1430\" data-end=\"1462\">\n<p data-start=\"1432\" data-end=\"1462\">Less dependent on a few giants<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1463\" data-end=\"1523\">\n<p data-start=\"1465\" data-end=\"1523\">Expense ratio ~0.35% <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1524\" data-end=\"1612\">\n<p data-start=\"1526\" data-end=\"1612\">Strong recent performance (+60% past year cited) <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1614\" data-end=\"1668\">\u2705 Higher upside in defense cycles<br \/>\n\u26a0\ufe0f More volatility<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1675\" data-end=\"1747\">SHLD \u2014 Next-generation warfare<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1748\" data-end=\"1783\">Best for: Modern defense themes<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1785\" data-end=\"1797\">Focus areas:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1798\" data-end=\"1851\">\n<li data-start=\"1798\" data-end=\"1810\">\n<p data-start=\"1800\" data-end=\"1810\">AI warfare<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1811\" data-end=\"1819\">\n<p data-start=\"1813\" data-end=\"1819\">drones<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1835\">\n<p data-start=\"1822\" data-end=\"1835\">cybersecurity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1836\" data-end=\"1851\">\n<p data-start=\"1838\" data-end=\"1851\">space defense<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1853\" data-end=\"1961\">Highlighted as a newer defense-tech focused ETF alongside ITA\/XAR\/PPA .<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1963\" data-end=\"2042\">\u2705 Exposure to future battlefield tech<br \/>\n\u26a0\ufe0f Less traditional contractor exposure<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2115\">DFEN \u2014 Trading vehicle<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2116\" data-end=\"2156\">Best for: Short-term tactical trades<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2158\" data-end=\"2244\">\n<li data-start=\"2158\" data-end=\"2188\">\n<p data-start=\"2160\" data-end=\"2188\">3\u00d7 leveraged defense ETF<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2189\" data-end=\"2244\">\n<p data-start=\"2191\" data-end=\"2244\">Designed for daily trading, not long-term holding<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2246\" data-end=\"2274\">\u26a0\ufe0f High risk \/ decay effects<\/p>\n<p>                            This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comments from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth U.S. will conclude operations under \u201cAmerica First\u201d conditions. Iran was building a shield for nuclear ambition This is not an endless war. Iran operation will&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-427805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-market-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/216"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=427805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427805\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swingfish.trade\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}