Washington,March 9 (SANA U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth affirmed on Monday that the military operations carried out by the U.S. and Israel against Iran will continue until Tehran is forced to accept the terms of surrender and a “complete victory” is achieved.
In an interview with CBS News, Hegseth said, “The objective set by President Donald Trump is to reach an unconditional surrender,” noting that Washington alone determines the conditions and parameters of this path and knows the moment when the opposing side becomes incapable of continuing the fight.
Hegseth stated that U.S. forces have struck nearly 3,000 targets inside Iranian territory since the start of the operations, with the participation of more than 50,000 American troops, confirming full coordination with the Israeli Air Force to ensure total air superiority.
Regarding the possibility of deploying ground forces, the secretary said Washington “reserves the right to consider any available option,” refusing to disclose any operational or time-related limits.
On maritime security, Hegseth stressed that the U.S. will secure the Strait of Hormuz “with overwhelming firepower,” noting that Iran’s naval capabilities have significantly deteriorated due to the strikes.
These statements come as U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran enter their second week under the operation dubbed “Epic Fury”, which targeted the compound of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, resulting in his death along with several senior Iranian commanders.
MHD
