The United States has “completely destroyed Iran’s defense industrial base,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a press conference following the announcement of a ceasefire between the two countries.
“They can no longer build missiles, rockets, launchers, or drones— their factories have been destroyed,” Hegseth stated.
According to the Pentagon chief, in less than 40 days, US Central Command used “less than 10% of total American combat power” to dismantle one of the world’s largest militaries. He added that during a wave of more than 800 strikes launched Tuesday night, just before the ceasefire took effect, the US completed the destruction of Iran’s defense industry.
Hegseth described “Operation Epic Fury” as a “historic and overwhelming battlefield victory,” saying it had rendered Iran’s military incapable of combat for years. He stressed that the US used only a fraction of its strength to inflict a “devastating military defeat” and, together with Israel, achieved all of its objectives on schedule.
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He also warned that if the ceasefire had not been reached, the US had additional targets ready, including bridges and power plants, which he described as legitimate military objectives.
Hegseth further claimed that Iran’s navy had been sunk and that the country now lacks a comprehensive air defense system. Regarding future negotiations, he said Iran’s leadership understood that an agreement was preferable to the alternative.
The US defense secretary also warned that if Iran does not hand over its uranium, the United States is prepared to seize it “by any means necessary.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, said US forces remain ready to resume combat if the ceasefire collapses. “A ceasefire is a pause,” he emphasized, adding that US forces can quickly return to operations if ordered.
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Caine detailed that since the start of the US-Israel offensive on February 28, more than 13,000 targets have been struck, including over 4,000 dynamic targets. He said US forces destroyed around 80% of Iran’s air defense systems, hit over 1,500 anti-aircraft targets, more than 450 ballistic missile storage sites, and 80 drone storage facilities.
He also stated that US forces devastated Iran’s command-and-control and logistics networks, destroying more than 2,000 command centers, and sank over 90% of Iran’s regular naval fleet, including all major surface combat ships.
