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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday that American forces are gearing up for what he called the "largest strike package" yet against Iran.
Speaking to reporters, Hegseth said the United States would continue its campaign until all objectives are achieved, declaring, “We will finish this,” and stressing that the war would conclude on American terms while Iran is prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Hegseth began the press conference by noting he had reached out to the families of six U.S. service members killed in a military refuelling plane crash over Iraq the previous week.
Detailing the scale of operations, Hegseth said US forces have struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran including key elements of its military infrastructure. He described the campaign as a sustained and precise application of overwhelming force, adding that each successive operation has grown in scale.
According to him, Iran’s defensive and industrial military capabilities have been significantly weakened. Air defence systems have been largely neutralized, while facilities linked to missile and drone production have been heavily targeted. He noted that hundreds of such sites have been directly hit, affecting Iran’s ability to manufacture new ballistic missiles.
Hegseth also said attacks on US forces by Iranian ballistic missiles and one-way drones have dropped sharply—by around 90%—since the start of the conflict. While acknowledging that Iran continues to launch attacks, he suggested its capacity to do so has been severely constrained.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States' objectives in the war against Iran have not changed since strikes started on February 28.
The United States has carried out strikes against 7,000 targets inside Iran so far, and hit more than 40 Iranian mine-laying vessels and 11 submarines, according to the Pentagon.
"Our objectives, given directly from our America-first president, remain exactly what they were on day one," Hegseth told reporters.
"These are not the media's objectives, not Iran's objectives, not new objectives. Our objectives - unchanged, on target and on plan," Hegseth added. He spent several minutes in his opening statement criticizing the press.
Hegseth told reporters that the objectives remained to destroy Iran's missile launchers, as well as its defence industrial base and navy and to never allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon.
In the same briefing, General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. military remained on track to achieve the objectives and the United States was striking deeper into Iranian territory every day.
Saying that Iran's “surface fleet is no longer a factor,” Hegseth said that “their submarines — they once had 11 — are gone.” The crafts Hegseth referenced are “midget” submarines designed to work in shallow waters in the Persian Gulf and its narrow mouth, the Strait of Hormuz.
The small vessels are designed to evade sonar as they lay mines and fire torpedoes.
Earlier, Hegseth opened Pentagon briefing with remarks about dignified transfer.
Hegseth said he told families of service members killed in the Iran war that US forces “will finish this.” Hegseth said they told him “through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve” that they wanted the US military to “finish this. Honour their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.” “My response, along with that of the president, was simple: Of course we will finish this. We will honour their sacrifice,” Hegseth said. “Their sacrifice only steels our commitment.”
Speaking to reporters, Hegseth said the United States would continue its campaign until all objectives are achieved, declaring, “We will finish this,” and stressing that the war would conclude on American terms while Iran is prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Hegseth began the press conference by noting he had reached out to the families of six U.S. service members killed in a military refuelling plane crash over Iraq the previous week.
Thousands of targets hit as pressure mounts
Detailing the scale of operations, Hegseth said US forces have struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran including key elements of its military infrastructure. He described the campaign as a sustained and precise application of overwhelming force, adding that each successive operation has grown in scale.
According to him, Iran’s defensive and industrial military capabilities have been significantly weakened. Air defence systems have been largely neutralized, while facilities linked to missile and drone production have been heavily targeted. He noted that hundreds of such sites have been directly hit, affecting Iran’s ability to manufacture new ballistic missiles.
Hegseth also said attacks on US forces by Iranian ballistic missiles and one-way drones have dropped sharply—by around 90%—since the start of the conflict. While acknowledging that Iran continues to launch attacks, he suggested its capacity to do so has been severely constrained.
US objectives in Iran have not changed, Hegseth says
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States' objectives in the war against Iran have not changed since strikes started on February 28.
The United States has carried out strikes against 7,000 targets inside Iran so far, and hit more than 40 Iranian mine-laying vessels and 11 submarines, according to the Pentagon.
"Our objectives, given directly from our America-first president, remain exactly what they were on day one," Hegseth told reporters.
"These are not the media's objectives, not Iran's objectives, not new objectives. Our objectives - unchanged, on target and on plan," Hegseth added. He spent several minutes in his opening statement criticizing the press.
Hegseth told reporters that the objectives remained to destroy Iran's missile launchers, as well as its defence industrial base and navy and to never allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon.
In the same briefing, General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. military remained on track to achieve the objectives and the United States was striking deeper into Iranian territory every day.
All 11 of Iran's submarines 'are gone'
Saying that Iran's “surface fleet is no longer a factor,” Hegseth said that “their submarines — they once had 11 — are gone.” The crafts Hegseth referenced are “midget” submarines designed to work in shallow waters in the Persian Gulf and its narrow mouth, the Strait of Hormuz.
The small vessels are designed to evade sonar as they lay mines and fire torpedoes.
Earlier, Hegseth opened Pentagon briefing with remarks about dignified transfer.
Hegseth said he told families of service members killed in the Iran war that US forces “will finish this.” Hegseth said they told him “through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve” that they wanted the US military to “finish this. Honour their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.” “My response, along with that of the president, was simple: Of course we will finish this. We will honour their sacrifice,” Hegseth said. “Their sacrifice only steels our commitment.”
