Pete Hegseth says U.S. objectives in the campaign against Iran have remained steady since Feb. 28. The U.S. reports striking about 7,000 targets, disabling more than 40 mine-laying vessels and 11 submarines, while core aims include destroying missile launchers, degrading Iran's defense industry and preventing a nuclear weapon. Casualties include 13 U.S. troops killed and roughly 200 wounded; an F-35 made an emergency landing amid an ongoing probe. The Pentagon has reportedly requested more than $200 billion to fund the campaign.
Hegseth: U.S. Objectives in Iran Remain Unchanged as Campaign Intensifies
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that Washington's goals in its campaign against Iran have not changed since strikes began on Feb. 28, pushing back against media accounts that portray the conflict as drifting into a “forever war.”
Hegseth’s Message
Speaking to reporters, Hegseth stressed that the objectives set by the U.S. president remain firm. "These are not the media's objectives, not Iran's objectives, not new objectives. Our objectives — unchanged, on target and on plan," he said, adding that critics who suggest the U.S. is sliding into an open-ended quagmire are wrong.
"Our objectives, given directly from our America-first president, remain exactly what they were on day one," Hegseth said.
Operational Focus
Hegseth outlined the campaign's core aims: destroying Iran's missile launchers, degrading its defense industrial base, neutralizing its navy and preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. He cited recent strikes on Kharg Island — a hub for roughly 90% of Iran's oil exports — as an example of U.S. leverage.
Scale of Strikes and Military Activity
The U.S. military has reported striking some 7,000 targets inside Iran and engaging more than 40 mine-laying vessels and 11 submarines. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said strikes have been extending deeper into Iranian territory each day, though he acknowledged Iran still retains significant missile capabilities: "They came into this fight with a lot of weapons."
Casualties, Equipment and Incidents
The U.S. military reported 13 service members killed and about 200 wounded so far, with most injuries described as minor. An F-35 that returned from a combat mission over Iran made an emergency landing; the pilot was reported in stable condition. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said the aircraft appeared to have been struck and that an investigation is ongoing.
Costs and Political Context
Signaling the potential for a protracted campaign, a Pentagon request to the White House seeks more than $200 billion in additional funding to sustain operations, according to Reuters sources. Hegseth did not confirm the exact figure but emphasized the need for resources: "Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys." Lawmakers were told in a closed briefing that the first six days of the campaign cost at least $11.3 billion — a partial figure that does not reflect the full cost of the operation.
Next Steps and Strategic Options
Officials have reportedly discussed a range of options, including securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz using air and naval assets and, potentially, limited deployments to shorelines. President Donald Trump, asked whether he planned to send more troops, said he was not putting forces "anywhere," and added that he would not disclose future troop movements to the press.
Bottom line: U.S. leaders say objectives remain constant and that military pressure will continue. Key decisions on force levels and long-term strategy — and the costs that accompany them — remain unresolved as the conflict evolves.
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