Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the United States did not initiate the current war with Iran but will “end” the conflict through a campaign he described as “devastating and decisive.”
Speaking at the Pentagon on the morning of March 2, Hegseth accused the theocratic regime in Tehran of conducting a “one-sided war” against the U.S. for 47 years.
“For 47 long years, the expansionist and radical Islamic regime in Tehran has waged a brutal war against America,” he said. “They haven’t always declared it publicly, beyond the ‘Death to America’ slogans, but they have carried it out with the blood of our people.”
Hegseth affirmed: “We did not start this war, but under the leadership of President Trump, we will end it.”
The statement comes as the U.S. and Israeli military campaigns against Iran continue to escalate, with airspace in several Middle Eastern countries temporarily disrupted and many flights canceled due to security concerns.
Defense officials have not yet released further details regarding the next steps in the campaign but emphasized the goal is to protect American interests and forces in the region.
