United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed a press conference on Monday, justifying why the U.S attacked Iran in what is now being called “Operation Epic Fury.”
The operation, which began on Saturday, February 28, 2026, involved a series of daylight airstrikes targeting late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound in Tehran.
Iranian state media, after initial denials, confirmed that the 86-year-old cleric was killed alongside several top military advisors and family members.
According to Secretary Hegseth, the decision to launch the strike was catalyzed by a breakdown in nuclear negotiations and intelligence suggesting an imminent threat.
“The Iranian regime was given every opportunity to reach a diplomatic resolution regarding their nuclear program and regional aggression,” Hegseth stated.
“They chose confrontation over cooperation.”
Hegseth added that another primary reason why the U.S. attacked Iran was to neutralize what he described as an “intolerable” ballistic missile threat.
Hegseth emphasized that the U.S would no longer tolerate the “shadow war” that has persisted for decades.
The U.S defense secretary also accused Iran of refusing to negotiate a “peaceful and sensible” deal with the U.S.
“They were stalling, buying time to reload their missile stockpiles and restart their nuclear ambitions,” he continues.
“President Trump doesn’t play those games.”
Hegseth added that U.S President Donald Trump has drawn the line “after 47 years of Iranian belligerence”.
He warned that anyone who kills or threatens Americans will be hunted down by the US “without apology and without hesitation”.
Hegseth says it is common sense that regimes like Iran must not have nuclear weapons, and Trump has the “guts” needed to enforce this.
Hegseth spoke this morning on the sprawling war in the Middle East, which kicked off Saturday with joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Hegseth said that for “47 long years,” the regime in Iran has “waged a savage, one-sided war against America,” prompting the U.S. to take action nearly half a century later.
“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth added that Trump has reminded the world that “being an American means something unbreakable.”
“If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you,” Hegseth said.
Speaking further, the U.S defense secretary also announced that the country is mourning four armed forces personnel lost so far.
“The absolute best of America,” he said.
“May we prosecute the remainder of this operation in a manner that honours them, no apologies, no hesitation, epic fury,” he added.
Addressing soldiers directly, Hegseth tells them: “This is the generational turning point we’ve been waiting for.”
