Pete Hegseth said on Monday that the United States did not initiate the conflict with Iran, but under Donald Trump, it is determined to end it. He explained the reasons and objectives behind recent US military strikes against Tehran during a Pentagon press briefing.
“We didn’t start this war, but under president Trump, we are finishing it,” he said, according to The Guardian.
Accusations Against Iran
Hegseth stated that for “47 long years,” Iran’s leadership had carried out a “savage, one-sided war against America.” He referred to incidents involving “the blood of our people, car bombs in Beirut, rocket attacks on our ships, murders at our embassies, roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
He accused Iran of expanding its missile and drone programmes to protect its nuclear ambitions. According to him, Tehran was “building powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions” and “had a conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb.”
Warning After Israel-Iran Conflict
Referring to the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, Hegseth said Washington had warned Tehran of “far worse” consequences if it attempted to rebuild its nuclear programme.
“They arrogantly refused,” he said. He added that President Trump, senior officials, and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had “bent over backwards for real diplomacy.”
“The former regime had every chance to make a peaceful and sensible deal, but Tehran was not negotiating,” he said.
Operation Epic Fury Objectives
Hegseth outlined the goals of Operation Epic Fury. He said US intelligence efforts were “laser focused” on eliminating Iran’s offensive missile systems, missile production centres, naval assets and key security infrastructure. He stressed that a central objective was to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.
“We’re hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically,” he said.
Response to Criticism
The defence secretary also responded to criticism from sections of the media. He said the US had “set the terms of this war from start to finish” and insisted that military goals were realistic.
“This is not Iraq. This is not endless. I was there for both. Our generation knows better, and so does this president,” Hegseth said.
His remarks came amid scrutiny of Trump’s past campaign claims that he had “ended eight wars” while promising to avoid new foreign conflicts.
US Casualties Confirmed
Hegseth confirmed that a fourth American service member had died in Iran’s counterattacks. He acknowledged the human cost of the conflict.
“War is hell and always will be,” he said.
“Our grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far and those injured – the absolute best of America.”
Overall, Hegseth presented the campaign as a focused and time-bound mission aimed at dismantling Iran’s military capabilities and preventing nuclear development, while asserting that the United States seeks to conclude, not prolong, the conflict.