Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared the U.S.’s war against Iran a “decisive military victory” during a press briefing on Wednesday—day one of a two-week ceasefire that could lead to more strikes if the U.S. and Iran can’t reach a long-term deal.
Hegseth said that “Iran begged for this ceasefire” and that “they’ve had enough,” though the 10-point plan Iran has proposed to end the war includes some propositions that have been non-starters for the U.S. in the past, including withdrawing U.S. troops from the Middle East and lifting all sanctions on Iran.
“Yeah, we’ll be hanging around. We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire and then ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal,” Hegseth said. “Our troops are prepared to defend, prepared to go on offense, prepared to restart at a moment’s notice with whatever target package would be needed in order to ensure that Iran complies.”
The secretary boasted of 800 targets struck Tuesday night before the ceasefire began, “completely destroying” their defense industrial base. That followed his March 13 declaration that it had been “functionally defeated.”
“What little they have left buried in bunkers is all they will have,” Hegseth said Wednesday. “They can still shoot. We know that their command and control is so decimated they can’t really talk and coordinate.”
Hegseth added that “Iran no longer has any sort of comprehensive air defense” capability.
Still, Iran retains the ability to fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which suggests that the country still has enough military power to be a threat beyond its borders. Eliminating Iran’s ability to do so is among the key military objectives repeatedly touted by the administration since strikes began in late February.
Hegseth’s claims about the operation’s success may be overwrought, officials and analysts told the Washington Post, in light of the downing of an F-15 fighter jet on Friday and the subsequent downing of an A-10 aiding in the rescue of the fighter’s aircrew.
At the briefing, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, estimated that the U.S. had taken out 80 percent of Iran’s air defense systems and sunk more than 90 percent of its navy over the course of striking more than 13,000 targets.
“Over the course of 38 days of major combat operation, the Joint Force achieved the military objectives as defined by the president,” Caine said in prepared remarks. “We welcome the ongoing cease fire, and as the Secretary said, we hope that Iran chooses a lasting peace.”
