‘Iran Begged For Ceasefire’: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Calls Operation Epic Fury A Battlefield Victory

US authorities report that Operation Epic Fury crippled Iran's naval, air and missile capabilities, prompting a ceasefire and shifting focus to verification and diplomatic terms under a broader peace framework. The Pentagon cites a dismantled defence-industrial base and reduced regional threat as core outcomes, with ongoing monitoring and sanctions considerations.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the United States had achieved its goals in Operation Epic Fury, claiming Iran requested a ceasefire after heavy losses. Speaking at the Pentagon on 8 April 2026, Hegseth described the campaign as a decisive battlefield success that left Iran’s armed forces substantially weakened.

At the briefing, Hegseth said Iran’s leadership sought to halt the fighting after the joint US-Israeli operation. According to Hegseth, Iran “begged for a ceasefire” once it became clear that further resistance would worsen military damage and narrow options for the authorities now in power in Tehran.

Operation Epic Fury Iran ceasefire and claimed military damage

Describing the scale of the strikes, Hegseth said Iran’s main defence infrastructure had been dismantled. Hegseth stated that command centres, production sites and other facilities linked to advanced weapons were primary targets. The Secretary of Defense said the campaign was planned to erode Iran’s ability to project force or restart key programmes quickly.

Hegseth asserted that the operation left Iran with almost no effective navy, air force or long-range missile capability. He argued that these losses created pressure on the “new Iranian regime” to accept terms. Hegseth added that several senior Iranian military figures were killed in the US-Israeli attacks, which, in his view, further limited Iran’s choices.

Operation Epic Fury Iran forces and defence-industrial losses

The Pentagon briefing focused on the damage to Iran’s military branches and industry. Hegseth said their defensive network had been dismantled, while missile production infrastructure and related facilities were hit across the country. He called the destruction of Iran’s defence manufacturing base a central objective for US forces during Operation Epic Fury.

Elaborating on this, Hegseth told reporters, “Iran's navy is at the bottom of the sea… Iran's air force has been wiped out. Iran no longer has any sort of a comprehensive air defense system… Their missile program is functionally destroyed,” and added, “We finished completely destroying Iran's defense-industrial base, a core pillar of our mission. They can no longer build missiles.”

Operation Epic Fury Iran ceasefire, Trump role and tweeted remarks

Hegseth credited former US President Donald Trump for shaping the outcome. “President Trump forged this moment. Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it…Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield," Hegseth said, calling the campaign a turning point in efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Hegseth linked the military results of Operation Epic Fury to ongoing diplomacy on Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions. He referred to Trump’s public stance of “No Uranium Enrichment” and said the ceasefire terms would be tied to restrictions on nuclear activities, along with talks on tariff and sanctions relief for Iran.

Operation Epic Fury Iran deal, peace prospects and new regime

According to Hegseth, major combat operations in Iran are now largely finished, and US forces have shifted to a monitoring role. “Now we have a chance at real peace and a real deal. The war department, for now – for now – has done its part. We stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term. And as everybody knows, nobody makes a better deal than President Trump," Hegseth said.

Hegseth said the “new Iranian regime understood that a deal was far better than the fate that awaited them." Without naming individuals, Hegseth noted that multiple senior Iranian leaders were killed during Operation Epic Fury. Hegseth added, "This new regime was out of options and out of time, so they cut a deal. They know that this agreement means they will never ever possess a nuclear weapon."

The Pentagon presentation, held in Washington D.C., framed Operation Epic Fury as a completed mission that met US objectives of weakening Iran’s military strength and pushing Tehran towards an agreement. Hegseth said the United States and its allies would now concentrate on verifying the ceasefire and any nuclear commitments while keeping forces ready if Iran failed to honour the terms.