War Secretary Pete Hegseth defended U.S. military operations targeting Iran during a Cabinet meeting Thursday, praising the campaign as swift and decisive while criticizing media coverage of the conflict. Hegseth accused reporters of failing to accurately portray the war effort, stating, "You wouldn’t know it if you listened to the dishonest, anti-Trump media."
Strategic Success and Media Criticism
Hegseth framed the operation as a historic success, crediting President Donald Trump for authorizing a rapid and effective dismantling of Iran's military capabilities. "Iran had a modern military, and never in recorded history has a nation’s military been so quickly and effectively neutralized," he said. Hegseth cited operational figures, claiming more than 10,000 enemy targets had been hit, along with over 150 naval vessels and underground facilities.
"This is stuff for the books. This is stuff for legacy, Mr. President, to ensure future generations do not have to live under the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran," Hegseth said.
Past Conflicts and Current Operations
Drawing on past experience, Hegseth referenced public debates during the Iraq war, arguing that media narratives have historically conflicted with military objectives. "In 2007, I helped lead the public fight when people stood in the Senate and declared the war was lost before it even turned," he said. He maintained that current operations differ from past conflicts, describing the campaign as structured and effective rather than open-ended.
Iranian Naval Capabilities Degraded
Hegseth also claimed Iranian naval capabilities had been significantly degraded, stating that the commander of Iran's naval forces had been killed in a recent operation. "They no longer have a navy, Mr. President," Hegseth stated. "Their naval commander was killed overnight in operations."
Hegseth criticized U.S. foreign policy under the Obama administration, particularly the Iran nuclear deal, noting, "Many of the military factories and bases that are now being destroyed were paid for by pallets of American cash that Barack Obama flew to Tehran under the Iran deal."