Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Don Cain, seen here in January, describe the US operation against Iran.
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Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Monday that the US-Israeli action against Iran was a response to years of targeting by the Islamic republic by the US military and its interests around the world.
“We didn’t start this war but we are finishing it under President Trump,” he said.
It was the administration’s first public statement to reporters since U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran began Saturday, despite weeks of negotiations to de-escalate the conflict. That operation — and Iran’s retaliation — led to the death of Iran’s supreme leader and some of its senior leadership, embroiled other Middle Eastern nations in the conflict, and led to the deaths of four American service members in Kuwait.
“This is not a regime change war, but the regime has certainly changed,” Hegseth said. “And the world is better for it.”
Gen. Dan Cain, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that achieving the military objective in Iran would be “difficult to achieve, and in some cases, difficult and complex work.”
“We expect to take additional losses and, as always, we work to minimize losses,” Kane said.
Hegseth said the U.S. goal in Iran is to “destroy the missile threats, destroy the navy, no nukes.” He rejected the idea that the conflict would be prolonged or engage in nation-building.
“We need to protect and defend ourselves and our regional partners to prevent Iran from being able to project power outside its borders,” Kaine said.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said some of the work “is the result of months, and in some cases, years, of deliberate planning and refinement.”
The initial phase targeted the Iranians’ command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites and intelligence infrastructure, “leaving the adversary without the ability to see, coordinate or respond effectively.”
Trump said The New York Times Combat operations on Sunday will continue for “four to five weeks” if necessary – until all US objectives are achieved. He did not explain what those intentions were.
The president has released two pre-recorded video messages since the conflict began.
