US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered some of his strongest remarks as the conflict with Iran entered its fifth day, saying the campaign was designed to overwhelm Tehran’s military capabilities.
Hegseth predicted that within a week, American and Israeli forces would achieve air superiority over Iran.
“In less than a week we will have complete control of Iran’s skies, uncontested airspace,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing.
Follow US Iran News live updates here
He elaborated on what that would mean operationally: “It means that we will be flying all day, all night, day and night, searching, repairing and completing the missile and defense industrial base of the Iranian military.
“Iran will not be able to do anything about it,” he added.
“Attacking Iran was never meant to be a fair fight,” Hegseth said at the briefing.
“We’ll punch them when they’re down, which is exactly how it should be,” he added. “They are toast and they know it, or at least they will soon.
He said the US and Israel had “only begun” efforts to “hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy and defeat their capabilities”.
Alleged assassination plot and target list
Asked about reports that the targeted leader was allegedly involved in a plot against President Donald Trump, Hegseth said the US had long known about Iranian efforts to kill the president and other top officials.
“Although it wasn’t the focus of the effort by any stretch of the imagination … I made sure and others made sure that those who were responsible for it ended up being part of the target list,” he said.
He emphasized that the primary target remains Iran’s missile and launch infrastructure, but added: “If we have the opportunity to get to those who are specifically trying to get to America, we would do that.
No other operational details were provided.
“Iran cannot survive us”
Hegseth rejected suggestions that Iran could endure a long-term conflict.
“Iran cannot survive us,” he said, adding that the war could continue “for three, four, six or eight weeks.”
“The only limits we have on this is President Trump’s desire to achieve concrete effects for the benefit of the American people,” he added. “We set the tone and pace of this fight.
He said: “The United States is winning, decisively, devastatingly and without mercy.”
Reports of civilian casualties are being investigated
Hegseth also addressed reports that a strike had hit a primary school in Minab in southern Iran, reportedly killing 168 people.
“All I know is we’re investigating,” he said. “Of course we never target civilians, but we will look at how to investigate.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on the X show that the school was “bombed in broad daylight when it was full of young pupils”.
Over the weekend, the United States Central Command said it was investigating reports of civilian deaths. The Israeli military has not commented.
Air defense “impressive” but not perfect
Hegseth said US and allied air defense systems have intercepted thousands of Iranian missiles and drones.
“Thousands of Iranian missiles and drones have been intercepted and vaporized,” he said.
He noted that every available anti-drone system was forward deployed, but acknowledged the limitations.
“That doesn’t mean we can stop everything.
Read also | Khamanei’s son Mojtaba the new supreme leader? Iran denies Israeli media reports
