US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth Signals Major Strikes On Iran, Says War Will End On US Terms

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military would again unleash the "largest strike package" on Iran, and declared the Gulf war would conclude on US terms. Hegseth stated that Washington would keep attacking until every stated aim was reached and said Iran’s military power had already suffered major damage.

Hegseth said US forces had so far hit more than 7,000 locations inside Iran and that Thursday’s operations would involve the "largest strike package" yet, echoing strikes a day earlier. According to Hegseth, "Our capabilities continue to build, Iran's continue to degrade," and Iran’s air defence network had been "flattened" by repeated attacks.

US-Iran Gulf war strikes and US Defence Secretary claims

Detailing battlefield developments, Hegseth said US strikes on Iranian positions and infrastructure on Kharg Island had weakened Iran’s military posture and given Washington strong leverage over the country’s future course. Hegseth stressed that these actions were part of a broader campaign intended to leave Iran unable to threaten the region in the same way again.

The defence secretary insisted that US goals in Iran had stayed constant "since Day 1" and remained "on target and on plan." Hegseth listed those goals as destroying missile launchers, dismantling Iran’s defence-industrial base, neutralising its navy, and guaranteeing that "Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," which Washington views as essential for long-term security.

US-Iran Gulf war objectives, Iran attacks and military losses

Hegseth said attacks by Iranian ballistic missiles and one-way drones against US forces had declined by 90% since the conflict began. Hegseth argued that Iran’s capacity to manufacture new ballistic missiles had likely been "hit hardest." According to Hegseth, this fall in attacks showed that sustained strikes were eroding Iran’s offensive reach.

Providing figures on naval losses, Hegseth said US forces had damaged or sunk at least 120 ships from Iran’s navy. He added that Iran’s surface fleet was "no longer a factor" and said all 11 of Iran’s submarines were "gone." Hegseth described these losses as central to reducing Iran’s ability to challenge maritime traffic.

US-Iran Gulf war, fallen soldiers and media criticism

Opening the briefing, Hegseth recalled that Hegseth and President Donald Trump had attended the repatriation of US service members killed in the Iran war on Wednesday. Hegseth said relatives of the soldiers had urged the administration to ensure they "do not stop until the job is done," adding, "Of course, we will finish this. We will honour their sacrifice."

Speaking directly to people in the United States, Hegseth rejected concerns that the conflict risked turning into a drawn-out war. Hegseth criticised parts of the media for describing the situation as "an endless abyss" or a "forever war," asserting that "nothing could be further from the truth" and insisting operations were progressing according to plan.

US-Iran Gulf war funding, allies and nuclear concerns

On the question of resources, Hegseth commented on a Washington Post report that the Pentagon had asked the White House for extra money to sustain the Iran war. Hegseth said the reported request of $200 billion (£151 billion) "could move, obviously" and added, "It takes money to kill bad guys," arguing that US forces must stay "properly funded" for possible future needs.

Asked how close Washington was to meeting President Trump’s objectives in Iran, Hegseth replied, "We don't want to set a definitive time frame on that," while repeating that operations remained "on plan." On cooperation, Hegseth called Israel an "incredible and capable" partner "since day one" and said Gulf states had also stepped up "incredibly," claiming the conflict had pulled them "squarely into our orbit."

Hegseth compared Iran’s leadership to Hamas in Gaza, accusing Tehran of pouring money into tunnels, rockets, missiles and drones. Hegseth said US forces were striking these capabilities "methodically, ruthlessly and overwhelmingly, like no other military in the world can do." Hegseth also said senior posts in Iran’s armed forces had become dangerous, describing top commander roles as "temp jobs" and "the last job anyone in the world wants right now."

Addressing Iran’s nuclear efforts, Hegseth said Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions meant the country was "not just a regional problem" but "a direct threat to America, to freedom and to civilisation." Hegseth repeated that the US would carry on its campaign until every objective was fulfilled and closed by saying "We will finish this. We will honour their sacrifice," while also arguing that "the world, the Middle East, our ungrateful allies in Europe, and even segments of our own press" should thank President Trump for leadership during the conflict.