Sec. Hegseth on Iran operation: ‘This is not Iraq, this is not endless’
As the U.S. and Israel have unleashed war upon Iran, critics are worried that this Middle East conflict could drag on endlessly. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth disagrees.
by Summer Lane | March 2, 2026
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and General Dan “Raizin” Cane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided an update about Operation Epic Fury on Monday morning, amid U.S. and Israeli military strikes in Iran.
During a briefing at the Pentagon, Secretary Hegseth focused on delivering a comprehensive overview of what had been accomplished overseas thus far.
“Two days ago, under the direction and direct orders of President Donald J. Trump, the Department of War launched Operation Epic Fury, the most lethal, most complex, and most precise aerial operation in history,” he said. “For 47 long years, the expansionist and Islamic regime in Tehran has waged a savage one-sided war against America. They didn’t always declare it openly, except for the constant chants of ‘Death of America.’ They did it through the blood of our people.”
Hegseth continued, “We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatollah and his death cult.”
Over the weekend, U.S. forces killed Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s “Supreme Leader.” Other senior officials were additionally killed, essentially wiping out the Iranian chain of command.
According to recent comments from President Donald Trump, 49 Iranian leaders have been eliminated since Operation Epic Fury commenced.
Since the onset of the attacks, there has been tremendous fear among many Americans that this operation could turn into another Middle East situation like the Iraq invasion, which lasted for decades and resulted in largely no tangible benefits for the U.S.
Hegseth stated, “To the media outlets and political left screaming ‘endless wars’: STOP. This is not Iraq, this is not endless. I was there for both. Our generation knows better, and so does this president. He called the last 20 years of nation-building wars ‘dumb,’ and he’s right. This is the opposite. This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission: destroy the missile threat, destroy the navy, no nukes.”
The secretary also said that this strike “is not a so-called regime war” but noted that “the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it.”
In the media, there has been some obfuscation over the objectives of this operation, but Hegseth provided clarity for anxious Americans who may not be getting the message through the media. According to the secretary, the objectives are “laser focused.”
“Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have nuclear weapons,” he said.
“We’re hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly, and unapologetically. With every passing day, our capabilities get stronger, and Iran’s get weaker. We set the terms of this war, from start to finish. Our ambitions are not utopian; they are realistic, scoped to our interests and the defense of our people and allies.”
