Hegseth reportedly fires U.S. top military planner as Trump downplays Iran peace talks

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gives a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, 2026 in Quantico, Virginia.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly fired the Pentagon's top military planner amid concerns that Washington may restart strikes on Iran after the midterm elections.

Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was removed as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Staff, according to the Associated Press. No reason was given for his dismissal, and nobody was named as his replacement. Sylvia has now retired, ABC News reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The AP also reported that U.S. officials have told some countries in the Middle East to be prepared for potential renewed military action against Iran after next week's midterm elections, as well as for any Iranian retaliation.

Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported that Vice President JD Vance had sent a letter to Iran "engaging one of Iran's most powerful hard-liners to revive peace negotiations."

Trump downplayed the idea of peace talks, telling reporters, "They need help with medical supplies and various things," adding, "he asked me what I thought. I said, 'If you want to do that, that's OK.'"

On Tehran's part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X late Wednesday that "Iran continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed."

He said that Iran remains in "close and ongoing contact with intermediaries to review ideas that can ensure implementation of our 7-Day Plan in even less than a week."

The 7-day plan was proposed last month, and Tehran said the ​Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and normal maritime passage ​restored if the necessary conditions — which reportedly included ending hostilities and releasing frozen Iranian assets — are met.

Tehran then would reopen the Strait to normal commercial shipping and resume negotiations with Washington.