Trump secretary says attack on Iran is “decisive”

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated this Monday (2) that the American attacks against Iran represent an “incredible opportunity” for the Iranian people and have a “clear, devastating and decisive” mission: to destroy the missile threat, neutralize the Iranian Navy and prevent any nuclear advance.

In a press conference alongside the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, Hegseth reinforced that the operation is not a regime change war. “This is not a supposed war to change the regime, but the regime has certainly changed, and the world is better because of it,” he declared.

Hegseth cited previous statements by President Donald Trump that “now is your time,” in an apparent direct message to the Iranian population. He then addressed the Persian country’s security forces, asking them to carefully consider their next steps.

The secretary also reacted to internal criticism in the United States. “To the media organizations and the political left who scream ‘endless war,’ stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless. Our generation knows better, and so does Trump,” he said.

According to him, the offensive will not follow the model of past interventions. “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmires, no democracy-building exercises. We fight to win and we don’t waste time or lives.”

Secretary accuses Iran’s nuclear program

Hegseth again accused Iran of developing long-range ballistic missiles, expanding its arsenal of lethal drones and maintaining nuclear ambitions considered unacceptable by Washington.

“Iran’s persistent nuclear ambitions, its attacks on global shipping lanes, and its growing arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones are no longer tolerable risks. Iran was building a conventional shield to support its nuclear blackmail. Our bases, our people, and our allies were in the crosshairs,” he declared.

He further stated that the United States did not start the conflict, but will end it. “We fight to win,” he said, adding that the goal is to conclude the war quickly.

Trump announces offensive and expands attacks against Iran

President Donald Trump announced that the United States has begun “major combat operations” against Iran, vowing to annihilate the country’s military and destroy its nuclear program.

In an eight-minute video published on the Truth Social network, Trump accused the Iranian regime of rejecting all opportunities to abandon its nuclear ambitions. According to him, the US “can’t take it anymore”.

Israel also confirmed attacks on Iranian targets. Unlike the June 2025 offensive, this time the actions began in broad daylight, in the early hours of Saturday — the first working day of the week in Iran — while millions of people were commuting to work or school.

The scenario in the Middle East is once again tense, with Washington insisting that the goal is to eliminate specific strategic threats, and not to get involved in a prolonged war.