Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, seen here in January, detailed the U.S. operation against Iran.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated on Monday that the U.S.-Israeli action against Iran was a response to the Islamic Republic’s continuous targeting of U.S. military and interests globally.
“We didn’t initiate this conflict, but under President Trump’s leadership, we are bringing it to a close,” he declared.
The recent U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, which commenced on Saturday despite ongoing negotiations to avoid a confrontation, have resulted in the demise of Iran’s supreme leader and key officials, drawn neighboring Middle Eastern countries into the conflict, and led to the loss of four American service members in Kuwait.
“This is not a war for regime change, but the regime itself has undergone significant transformation,” Hegseth emphasized. “The world is undoubtedly safer because of it.”
General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed reporters that the military objectives in Iran will be challenging and demanding.
“We anticipate further casualties, and our priority will be to minimize losses,” Caine stated.
Hegseth outlined the U.S.’s objectives in Iran as “eliminating missile threats, neutralizing the navy, and preventing nuclear capabilities.” He dismissed the idea of prolonged conflict or engaging in nation-building efforts.
Caine emphasized that the mission’s aim is “to safeguard ourselves and, in collaboration with regional allies, prevent Iran from projecting power beyond its borders.”
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs highlighted that the operation involved meticulous planning and preparation spanning months and even years.
The initial phase targeted Iran’s command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites, and intelligence network, rendering the adversary unable to effectively coordinate or respond.
President Trump revealed to The New York Times that combat operations will persist for “four to five weeks” if necessary until all U.S. objectives are accomplished, without specifying the exact nature of those objectives.
Since the commencement of the conflict, the president has delivered two pre-recorded video messages.
