US defense secretary Pete Hegseth today admitted there is no defined timeline for the end of US military operations in Iran, with the decision on when objectives have been achieved resting with the president.
At a press conference, Hegseth stressed that the military intervention launched on February 28 is proceeding “according to plan” and rejected the idea of a fixed deadline for its conclusion. “We don’t want to set a specific timeline for that,” he said, adding that the final decision on ending operations will rest with president Donald Trump.
Hegseth sought to respond to criticism over the absence of a clear strategy, insisting the objectives remain unchanged — focused on destroying missile launchers, Iran’s defense industrial base and its navy, as well as preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Read more about this topic: Iran War: US Vice President rules out prolonged conflict (with video)
He said Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks against US forces have decreased by around 90% since the start of the conflict, and that US forces have damaged or sunk at least 120 Iranian warships, with Iran’s surface fleet now “non-existent” and its submarines “destroyed.”
According to Hegseth, the US has already struck more than 7,000 targets in Iran, with today expected to see the largest strike since the offensive began. He accused media of conveying the impression of an endless prolonged war, saying “nothing could be further from the truth,” and addressed the American public directly, saying the military campaign is being conducted in a “methodical, relentless and overwhelming” manner.
The defense secretary also called for international recognition of US action, arguing that “the world, the Middle East, European allies and parts of the press” should thank president Donald Trump.
