Hegseth Says Trump Showed ‘Mercy’ With Ceasefire In ‘Devastating’ Defeat Of Iran

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States delivered a “devastating military defeat” to Iran, and told reporters on Wednesday that President Donald Trump “chose mercy” when reaching a ceasefire agreement.

President Donald Trump announced the two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday evening, before the deadline imposed on Iran’s cooperation had expired. Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. was prepared to act had that deadline passed without an agreement. “Had Iran refused our terms, the next targets were their power plants, bridges, oil, and energy infrastructure, targets they could not defend or realistically rebuild,” he said. “It would have taken decades and we were locked and loaded.”

Hegseth described Operation Epic Fury as an “historic and overwhelming victory” during his ten-minute opening statement at the briefing.

“Iran has been a threat to the United States and free world for 47 years. Chants of ‘Death to America,’ targeting our people, killing Americans, lying and blackmailing toward a nuclear weapon, or so they thought. No longer. Not on our watch,” Hegseth said. “Other presidents marked time and kicked the can down the road. President Trump made history.”

“From the strike that took out Soleimani to tearing up the disastrous Obama-Iran deal, to the precision campaign that obliterated Iran’s nuclear sites in Midnight Hammer to the victory we just achieved in Operation Epic Fury, no other president shown courage and resolve of this commander-in-chief,” Hegseth continued. “President Trump forged this moment. Iran begged for this ceasefire. And we all know it. As President Truthed this morning, ‘big day for world peace.’ Iran wants this to happen, they’ve had enough. Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield.”

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