Washington / Tehran : U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has made striking statements about ongoing military operations targeting Iran, claiming that the country’s air defense systems have been neutralized and its missile production infrastructure has been dismantled.
During a Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth asserted that American aircraft can now operate freely within Iranian airspace, hitting strategic targets with little to no resistance.
He further stated that Iran’s ballistic missile program and drone manufacturing facilities have suffered significant damage, leaving Tehran incapable of mounting a major counteroffensive. According to him, the U.S. has successfully achieved its goal of crippling Iran’s missile-production capabilities.
Hegseth also noted that Iran’s emerging leadership has become a target, reporting that Mojtaba Khamenei, a potential candidate for supreme leadership, sustained injuries in a recent strike and may have been disfigured.
Commenting on the scope of the conflict, the defense chief emphasized that military operations will continue until Iran’s armed capabilities are fully dismantled. He warned that no concessions would be offered and that Iran would have to surrender unconditionally to preserve itself.
Defense experts suggest that Hegseth’s forceful remarks are likely intended to demoralize Iranian forces and pressure the leadership toward capitulation.
Meanwhile, the White House has indicated that steps toward potential regime change in Iran are being accelerated.
