The United States has claimed it now exercises overwhelming control over Iranian airspace and waterways following a military campaign launched after an alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Speaking during a news conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, the U.S. Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, described the scale and intensity of the ongoing military operations, stressing that the conflict was “never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight”.
“Iran tried to take the life of President Trump, but President Trump got the last laugh,” the Secretary said.
“We’ve taken control of Iran’s airspace and waterways. The terms of this war will be set by us. Iran will never access a nuclear bomb—not on our watch.”
The briefing also highlighted the U.S. military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, which the Secretary said has delivered “twice the air power of shock and awe of Iraq in 2003,” and seven times the intensity of Israel’s earlier operations against Iran over a 12-day period.
He outlined the scope of American air superiority, noting continuous flights by B-2, B-52 and B-1 bombers, Predator drones, and fighter jets over Tehran and other Iranian military locations.
The campaign has also involved targeted strikes on Iran’s missile and defense infrastructure, key leadership positions, and critical military installations.
According to the Secretary, the operation has deployed precision-guided bombs weighing 500, 1,000, and 2,000 pounds, alongside a large arsenal of standoff munitions.
“The enemy can no longer shoot the volume of missiles they once did,” he said. “Our air defenses and those of our allies can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to. We set the terms.”
Hegseth also claimed that U.S. forces had inflicted significant losses on Iranian naval and military assets, including the sinking of the Iranian warship Soleimani and other vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
He described the Iranian Air Force as “built for 1996, destroyed in 2026,” adding that Iran’s military leadership structure has been severely weakened.
According to the briefing, the operation also targeted and eliminated the leader of the unit allegedly responsible for the assassination attempt on Trump.
Although some Iranian missiles and drones may still present threats, the Secretary maintained that the United States and its allies would continue efforts to neutralize those capabilities.
“This is not a mission accomplished situation. This is simply a reality check,” he said.
“The combination of U.S. and Israeli intelligence and combat power will control Iran and will control it soon.”
He explained that the strategic objective of the campaign is to destroy Iran’s missile and drone production capacity, cripple its naval forces, secure critical infrastructure, and permanently prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“Our offensive and defensive operations are designed to protect American lives while decisively crushing the enemy before they can strike again,” he said.
“Unlike past vague red lines, we act decisively, and we finish what we start.”
The Secretary concluded by praising Israel for its cooperation, describing the partnership as “a true force multiplier” that has enabled both countries to carry out operations with “unmatched skill and iron determination.”