No timeframe for ending US war against Iran, says Pete Hegseth
No Set End Date for US War with Iran, Says Pete Hegseth
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted on Thursday that the United States has no established deadline for its conflict with Iran, while also acknowledging the possibility of seeking additional $200 billion in funding from Congress. The US-Israeli military campaign, initiated three weeks prior, has escalated in intensity, with operations extending further into Iranian territory.
During a press briefing at the Pentagon, Hegseth indicated that the upcoming day would mark the most significant wave of attacks yet. “To date, we’ve struck over 7,000 targets across Iran and its military infrastructure,” he stated. “Today will be the largest strike package yet … death and destruction from above.” Despite rising oil prices and a declining approval rating for the president, Hegseth refused to outline a strategy for withdrawal, emphasizing that the decision to cease operations rests solely with the leader.
“We wouldn’t want to set a definitive timeframe,” Hegseth remarked, adding that “we’re very much on track” and Trump will determine when the campaign concludes. “It will be at the president’s choosing, ultimately, where we say, ‘Hey, we’ve achieved what we need to.’”
The scope of the operation has expanded notably, with US aircraft and naval forces targeting multiple vessels, including mine-layers and submarines, in the Gulf. These actions aim to restore access to the strategically crucial strait of Hormuz, which Tehran had previously closed. Hegseth dismissed concerns about mission creep as media-driven, reaffirming the campaign’s original goals: to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities, weaken its defense industry, and prevent nuclear weapon acquisition.
General Dan Caine, a senior US military official, echoed Hegseth’s remarks, stating the force is “on track” and advancing deeper into Iranian territory. Long-range strikes are now reaching further east, striking underground storage facilities and coastal missile sites. Caine highlighted the growing geographic reach of the conflict, noting that A-10 “Warthog” aircraft are being deployed in the Gulf to engage fast-attack craft, while Apache helicopters in Iraq target Iran-backed militia groups.
In a pointed critique of the media, Hegseth claimed that journalists “stop at nothing” to downplay progress and question the mission. “A dishonest and anti-Trump press will amplify every cost and call into question every step,” he said. “Sadly, TDS [Trump derangement syndrome] is in their DNA. They want President Trump to fail.” He concluded his remarks with a religious appeal, urging Americans to pray for US troops “on bended knee with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ.”