OAN Staff Chloe Hauxwell and Sophia Flores
10:42 AM – Monday, March 2, 2026
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran’s war on Americans has effectively become America’s retribution against the Iranian regime. Hegseth insisted the conflict “is not endless” while sharply rejecting comparisons to past U.S. wars in the Middle East.
During a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury on Monday morning, Hegseth said President Donald Trump is putting America first, saying this conflict will end on America’s terms.
“We set the terms of this war from start to finish. Our ambitions are not utopian. They are realistic, scoped to our interests and the defense of our people and our allies,” he told reporters.
“To the media outlets and political left screaming ‘endless wars,’ stop,” he said. “This is not Iraq. This is not endless. I was there for both. Our generation knows better and so does this president. He called the last 20 years of nation building wars dumb, and he’s right. This is the opposite.”
Hegseth warned that Iran was building powerful missiles and drones for a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions, and that President Trump is the only world leader trying to stop Tehran as these strikes come in the wake of Iran’s refusal to negotiate.
“President Trump has also been very consistent,” the war secretary stated. “Crazy regimes like Iran hell-bent on prophetic Islamist delusions cannot have nuclear weapons. It’s common sense. Many have said it, but it takes guts to actually enforce it, and our president has guts.”
Hegesth also recognized the four service members killed during Iran’s initial counterattacks, saying Operation Epic Fury will continue in their honor.
“As the president warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties,” Hegseth stated. “War is hell and always will be. A grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far and those injured, the absolute best of America.”
“May we prosecute the remainder of this operation in a manner that honors them,” he continued. “No apologies, no hesitation, epic fury for them and the thousands of Americans before them taken too soon by Iranian radicals.”
General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also offered his condolences and gratitude to the service members fighting for American freedom.
“I stand here before you today grateful for each service member, planner, logistician, operator across our joint force, for our Department of War, civilians, our intelligence community teammates, our interagency teammates who continue to stand in harm’s way alongside us,” Caine said. “I am proud of all of you as you take the fight to the enemy, and we are the best in the world at integrating, period.”
When taking questions from reporters, Hegseth reiterated that at this time, there are no U.S. boots on the ground. However, he would not go into detail about the war department’s strategy.
He also did not set a timeline for the operation, but there are estimates that Operation Epic Fury could last four weeks.
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