Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday pushed back against concerns that the U.S. military campaign against Iran could evolve into a prolonged conflict, arguing that the operation differs sharply from past wars that stretched on for years.
Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said the administration is determined to avoid the kind of open-ended engagement that President Donald Trump has long criticized.
“Our ambitions are not utopian — they are realistic,” Hegseth told reporters.
He dismissed comparisons to previous Middle East conflicts.
“This is not Iraq, this is not endless,” Hegseth said. “Our generation knows better and so does this president. This operation is a clear devastating decisive mission.”
Hegseth also rebuked critics of Trump’s approach, emphasizing that the military effort is narrowly focused and not intended to reshape Iran’s political system.
The campaign is not “a democracy-building exercise,” he said.
Framing the threat as immediate, Hegseth argued that Tehran had constructed a conventional military deterrent to shield its nuclear program. Iran “had a conventional gun to our head,” he said.
Following Hegseth’s remarks, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine outlined the opening phase of the operation, describing initial actions taken by U.S. forces. He cautioned that the campaign remains in its early stages, saying “this work is just beginning and will continue.”
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