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WASHINGTON — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared an “overwhelming victory” in the war against Iran Wednesday — as he insisted the regime had “begged” for a cease-fire after Tehran’s missile program was completely obliterated.
“Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. A capital ‘V’ military victory,” he said during a Pentagon press briefing.
“By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran’s military and rendered it combat-ineffective for years to come.”
Hegseth’s victory lap came after President Trump pulled back from the brink of a threatened full blown assault on the Islamic Republic late Tuesday – just two hours before a deadline he set for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it,” Hegseth said.
“Together with our Israeli partners, America’s military achieved every single objective on plan, on schedule, exactly as laid out from day one.”
Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine touted the military successes of Operation Epic Fury in a Wednesday press conference at the Pentagon — including the striking of more than 13,000 targets in total.
Caine boasted that around 80% of Iran’s air defense systems have been destroyed in the 40 days of the conflict.
Tehran’s ballistic missile program and one-way attack drone capacities have also been decimated, along with 90% of its naval fleet, Caine told reporters.
“It is — and we know this — incredibly frustrating right now to be a lower-level Iranian commander trying to fight your fight,” he said.
“It will take years for Iran to rebuild any major surface combatants, as more than 20 naval production and fabrication facilities have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 80% of Iran’s nuclear industrial base was hit, further degrading their attempts to attain a nuclear weapon.”
Hegseth added that the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program has “always been non-negotiable” and that its remaining enriched uranium was “buried and we’re watching it.”
“We know exactly what they have. And they know that. And they will either give it to us, which the president has laid out,” the cabinet official said, “or if we have to do something else ourselves, like we did in Midnight Hammer, or something like that, we reserve that opportunity.”
There are still questions, though, about how commercial ships and oil tankers will be afforded safe passage through the state — and whether Iran will be able to charge tolls.
“We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people,” Trump told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl in an interview Wednesday. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
Touting the success of the widespread US destruction, Hegseth insisted Iran’s missile program had been “functionally destroyed” — noting they could no longer build missiles, rockets or launchers.
“Iran’s navy is at the bottom of the sea,” Hegseth said.
“Iran’s air force has been wiped out. Iran no longer has an air defense….We own their skies. Their missile program is functionally destroyed.”
He added that what little Iran had left was now “buried in bunkers.”
“They can still shoot. We know that. Their command and control is so decimated they can’t really talk and coordinate, so they still may shoot here and there,” Hegseth said.
“But that would be very, very unwise.”
Elsewhere, Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury had achieved its objectives and the US military would stand-down for the time being.
“The War Department for now — for now — has done its part,” he said.
“We stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term,” he added, referring to Trump’s cease-fire reached on Tuesday. “And as everyone knows, nobody makes a better deal than President Trump.”
“No other president has shown the courage and resolve of this commander in chief. President Trump forged this moment,” he said.
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