Washington: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Thursday that there is no "definitive" time frame for ending the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. He emphasized that the United States is "winning on our terms," dismissing media claims that the nation is heading toward an "endless abyss" or a "forever war."
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hegseth's comments came during a press briefing as the U.S. military campaign, known as "Operation Epic Fury," has been underway for three weeks. The operation aims to dismantle Iran's missile capabilities, impair its naval power, and prevent the country from further developing nuclear weapons.
Hegseth clarified that while there is no set time frame for concluding the operation, the U.S. is proceeding according to plan. The decision to end the conflict will ultimately be made by President Donald Trump, he stated.
Addressing the recent Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field, Hegseth noted that it served as a clear warning. He reiterated President Trump's position that Iran has long weaponized energy resources.
The defense secretary reported that the U.S. has successfully struck over 7,000 targets in Iran and has damaged or sunk more than 120 Iranian ships. He warned of the continuation of military strikes, describing the action as "overwhelming force applied with precision."
Hegseth assured that the current military operation will not evolve into a protracted conflict similar to the Iraq war in the early 2000s. He criticized the media for suggesting the possibility of an endless or quagmire-like situation, stating that such comparisons are inaccurate.
He further emphasized that America is prevailing in the conflict, asserting that the U.S. fights to win and is achieving its objectives in the operation against Iran.