US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared American forces are “winning” against Iran but refused to specify when the conflict might conclude, emphasizing that the decision remains with President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hegseth outlined three primary US objectives: neutralizing Tehran’s missile capabilities, dismantling its navy, and “permanently deny Iran nuclear weapons forever.”
“We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,” Hegseth stated, according to Al Jazeera.
“We do so on our timeline and at our choosing. For example, today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran – the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes.”
Despite Washington’s persistent claims of Iranian defeat, Tehran’s leaders have responded defiantly, pledging continued resistance.
“Those mightier than you have not been able to eliminate our nation. Those who have tried have become eradicated themselves,” senior Iranian official Ali Larijani posted on social media Tuesday.
Iran consistently denies seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining its program is peaceful. Following June 2025 US strikes on several key Iranian nuclear sites, Trump claimed the US had “obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear program.
In retaliation for US-Israeli attacks that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and over 1,250 others, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes against Israel and throughout the region.
Iranian forces have additionally targeted Gulf state oil facilities and largely succeeded in closing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial energy shipping route, causing fuel prices to surge.
Late Monday, Trump warned Iran of “death, fire, and fury” if oil shipments through the strait are not permitted.
Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, responded defiantly, asserting the Strait of Hormuz “will either be a Strait of peace and prosperity for all or will be a Strait of defeat and suffering for warmongers.”
Top US General Dan Caine confirmed American forces continue to “hunt and strike mine-laying vessels” in the Gulf.
Last week, Trump suggested US naval vessels might accompany oil ships through the strait to guarantee their safety.
However, Caine indicated Tuesday that no decision has been made regarding using US forces to reopen the waterway.
“If tasked to escort, we’ll look at the range of options to set the military conditions to be able to do that,” he stated.
Last week, Israel struck Tehran’s oil depots, igniting fires and massive smoke plumes across the city, drawing criticism from some war supporters.
Hegseth acknowledged Israel maintains separate objectives in the conflict.
He indicated the attack on Iranian energy infrastructure was not “necessarily” a US goal.
“Israel has been a really strong partner in this effort. Where they have different objectives, they pursued them. Ultimately, we’ve stayed focused on ours,” the Pentagon chief explained.
While Hegseth articulated specific war aims, Trump’s stated objectives have evolved—ranging from securing “freedom” for Iranians to installing an Iranian leader from within the governing system willing to accommodate US and Israeli demands.
When questioned about the conflict’s duration, Hegseth responded: “The president has set a very specific mission to accomplish, and our job is to unrelentingly deliver that. Now, he gets to control the throttle. He’s the one deciding.”
