Only Donald Trump will decide when war ends, says US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said only Donald Trump will decide when the Iran war ends, ruling out any timeline and claiming major damage to Iran’s military capabilities.
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): Amid ongoing tensions with Iran, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made it clear that there is no fixed timeline for the end of the conflict, stating that the final decision will rest solely with President Donald Trump.
During a press briefing, Hegseth paid tribute to American soldiers killed in the conflict and expressed condolences to their families. He emphasized that the mission will not be left incomplete and dismissed any discussion of a predefined timeline for ending the war.
“We do not want to set any specific timeline. We are on the right path, and President Donald Trump will decide when to stop,” Hegseth said. He added that once the objectives of the mission are achieved, the President will take the final call.
Hegseth also shared details of his interaction with the families of fallen soldiers. He said the families urged the government to complete the mission and not back down. “They told us—finish this, honor their sacrifice, don’t waver,” he said, adding that both he and the President assured them that the mission would be completed.
He also referred to the deaths of six US service members who were killed in a military refueling aircraft crash over Iraq, stating that their sacrifice further strengthened the resolve to continue operations.
Comparing Iran’s military infrastructure to groups like Hamas, Hegseth said Iran has heavily invested in tunnels, missiles, rockets and drones, all of which are being systematically targeted by US forces.
According to him, the US has so far carried out strikes on more than 7,000 targets in Iran. He claimed the attacks have been precise and effective, and indicated that even larger strikes could follow.
Hegseth further stated that Iran’s military capabilities have suffered significant damage. He claimed that the country’s ballistic missile capability has dropped by nearly 90 percent since the start of the conflict. Similarly, the use of UAVs or kamikaze drones has also reduced drastically.
“Our strength continues to grow, while Iran’s capabilities are weakening. We have effectively dismantled their air defense systems,” he said.