The United States (U.S) government has ordered what it described as the heaviest strikes yet on Iran on Tuesday, just hours after the Islamic Republic finalized its succession of power.
The Pentagon confirmed that the latest wave of aerial bombardments will be targeted at high-value military assets, further crippling the nation’s defensive capabilities as it adjusts to life under a new Supreme Leader.
The announcement of the heaviest strikes on Iran coincide with the official appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial phase of the conflict on February 28.
The Assembly of Experts moved swiftly to name Mojtaba as the third Supreme Leader in the history of the Islamic Republic, signaling a hard-line continuation of his father’s policies.
Speaking during a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, the U.S Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said the latest operations under Operation Epic Fury would mark the most aggressive round of strikes since the war began.
“Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran; The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence is more refined and better than ever,” Hegseth said.
According to him, the offensive is aimed at destroying Iran’s missile stockpiles, launch systems, and defence industrial base, as well as weakening the country’s naval forces and preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Hegseth also said the United States and Israel were making significant progress in the conflict.
“We are crushing the enemy in an unrelenting way; We do so on our timeline and at our choosing,” He said.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, told reporters that U.S-led strikes had significantly reduced Iran’s ability to retaliate.
Caine said ballistic missile attacks from Iran had dropped by 90 per cent since the start of the operation, while one-way attack drone launches had declined by 83 per cent.
He added that more than 50 Iranian naval vessels had been struck since hostilities began.
According to him, the U.S military has concentrated its attacks on key centres within Iran’s military and industrial infrastructure to prevent the country from producing drones and other advanced weapons.
Despite the escalating attacks, Hegseth stressed that the duration and objectives of the campaign would ultimately be decided by the US President, Donald Trump.
“Our will is endless, but ultimately the president gets to determine the end state of those objectives,” he said.
Addressing criticism about Israel’s role in the conflict, he said Washington was pursuing its own strategic goals.
“Israel has been a strong partner, but we are focused on our objectives; The president is leading and determining where we want to go. We are not being pulled in any direction,” He said.
Hegseth also warned Iran’s leadership amid reports that the country’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may have been injured.
“Khamenei would be wise to listen to the president’s message not to pursue nuclear weapons,” he said.
The defence chief added that Iranian forces were becoming increasingly weakened by the sustained air campaign.
“Iran stands alone, and they are badly losing,” he said.
