US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said Iran will face the “largest strike package” again, asserting that the ongoing Gulf war will end on America’s terms and that Washington remains committed to completing its mission.
The defence secretary said the US military has struck more than 7,000 targets in Iran so far and that Thursday would see the “largest strike package” yet, similar to the previous day. “Our capabilities continue to build, Iran’s continue to degrade,” he said, adding that Iran’s air defence systems have been “flattened.”
Hegseth said that strikes on Iran's military capabilities on Kharg Island give the US control over the fate of the country.
Beginning his briefing, Hegseth said he and President Donald Trump were present on Wednesday as the remains of US soldiers killed in the Iran war were brought back home. He added that families of the deceased service members urged the administration to ensure they “do not stop until the job is done.”
“Of course, we will finish this. We will honour their sacrifice,” Hegseth said.
Addressing the American public directly, Hegseth pushed back against criticism that the conflict risks becoming a prolonged war. He accused sections of the media of portraying the situation as “an endless abyss” or a “forever war,” insisting “nothing could be further from the truth.”
He stressed that US objectives in Iran have remained unchanged “since Day 1,” and are “on target and on plan.” According to Hegseth, these objectives include destroying missile launchers, dismantling Iran’s defence-industrial base, neutralising its navy, and ensuring that “Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
Hegseth also claimed that Iranian ballistic missile and one-way drone attacks against US forces have dropped by 90% since the start of the conflict. He added that Iran’s ability to produce new ballistic missiles has likely been “hit hardest.”
Providing further details, Hegseth said the US has damaged or sunk at least 120 Iranian naval ships, with the surface fleet “no longer a factor” and Iran’s 11 submarines “gone.”
He described leadership roles within Iran’s military as increasingly precarious, saying the “last job anyone in the world wants right now” is that of a senior Iranian commander, calling such positions “temp jobs.”
Comparing the Iranian regime to Hamas in Gaza, Hegseth accused Tehran of investing heavily in tunnels, rockets, missiles and drones. He said US forces are targeting these assets “methodically, ruthlessly and overwhelmingly, like no other military in the world can do.”
Hegseth reiterated that the US would continue its operations until its objectives are achieved. “We will finish this. We will honour their sacrifice,” he said.
Before concluding his briefing, Hegseth addressed a report by The Washington Post that the Pentagon has sought additional funding from the White House to support the Iran war. He said the reported figure of $200 billion (£151 billion) “could move, obviously.”
“It takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth said, adding that it is important US forces are “properly funded” for any future requirements.
When asked how close the US is to achieving President Trump’s objectives in Iran, Hegseth said, “We don’t want to set a definitive time frame on that,” while reiterating that operations remain “on plan.”
On international cooperation, Hegseth described Israel as an “incredible and capable” partner since “day one.” He added that Gulf states have also stepped up “incredibly,” saying the conflict has brought them “squarely into our orbit.”
He also argued that Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions makes it “not just a regional problem” but “a direct threat to America, to freedom and to civilisation.”
Source: India Today