The US will not stop "until the enemy is completely defeated," Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth declared.

He once again asserted that Iran "was rapidly moving toward creating a nuclear bomb," emphasizing that US President Donald Trump "will never allow this."

According to Hegseth, Iranian authorities understand that their military capabilities are "being systematically degraded" and that Iran "has found itself isolated and is suffering serious defeat." In contrast, he noted, the United States is "winning" and fulfilling its objectives — destroying Iranian missiles, naval forces, and seeking to "permanently deprive Iran of the ability to possess nuclear weapons."

"We will not stop until the enemy is completely and finally defeated." Hegseth also emphasized that "this is not 2003 and this is not endless nation-building," attempting to draw a distinction between the current military campaign and previous US military operations in the Middle East.