Hegseth lays out ‘clear’ 3-part mission against Iran, says war ‘is not endless’

War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday outlined what he described as a “clear” three-part mission against Iran, insisting the conflict “is not endless” and sharply rejecting comparisons to past U.S. wars in the Middle East.

Speaking during the first Pentagon briefing since U.S.-Israeli strikes began over the weekend, Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury has a narrowly defined objective: destroy Iran’s offensive missile capabilities, cripple its navy and prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“We set the terms of this war from start to finish. Our ambitions are not utopian. They are realistic, scoped to our interests and the defense of our people and our allies,” he told reporters.

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