No timeframe for ending US war against Iran, says Pete Hegseth
No timeframe for ending US war against Iran, says Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, confirmed on Thursday that the conflict with Iran lacks a defined timeline for conclusion. He also acknowledged the Pentagon’s potential pursuit of an additional $200bn in funding from taxpayers, though he did not explicitly dismiss the idea.
The US-Israeli military campaign, launched three weeks prior, has expanded its reach. With oil and gas facilities across the Gulf under attack, Donald Trump threatened to “massively blow up” the world’s largest gasfield after Israeli strikes on an Iranian site triggered a retaliatory surge from Tehran.
Hegseth, addressing reporters at the Pentagon, hinted that Thursday would mark the most significant US operation to date. “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.”
“We wouldn’t want to set a definitive timeframe,” Hegseth remarked, emphasizing that the decision to end the conflict rests with Trump. “It will be at the president’s choosing, ultimately, where we say, ‘Hey, we’ve achieved what we need to.'”
Despite rising oil prices and a declining approval rating for the president, Hegseth provided no clear strategy for withdrawal. The campaign’s goals, he stressed, remain focused on dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, weakening its defense industry, and preventing nuclear weapon development. “Our objectives, given directly from our America-first president, remain exactly what they were on day one,” he said, dismissing claims of shifting priorities.
Gen Dan Caine, a top US military official, echoed Hegseth’s confidence, noting the operation is advancing as planned. Long-range strikes now target deeper Iranian territory, including underground storage sites and coastal missile installations. In the Gulf, A-10 aircraft are engaged in patrols to disrupt Iranian naval movements, while Apache helicopters in Iraq focus on militia groups aligned with Tehran.
Hegseth, who has shown support for Christian nationalism, concluded his remarks with a spiritual appeal. “Pray for our troops on bended knee with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ,” he urged. His speech, he clarified, was directed at the American public rather than the media present at the Pentagon.
He criticized the press, stating: “A dishonest and anti-Trump press will stop at nothing – we know this at this point – to downplay progress, amplify every cost and call into question every step. Sadly, TDS [Trump derangement syndrome] is in their DNA. They want President Trump to fail.”
