US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran’s missile industry had been completely destroyed and that the country no longer possessed effective air defence.
Speaking during a news briefing, Hegseth said that the decision on when the war would end rested with President Donald Trump, adding that the American news channel CNN was airing “fake news” regarding the conflict. He added that Iran’s capability to lay naval mines remained under American targeting.
Hegseth said the most intense phase of US strikes on Iran was expected today. According to him, the Iranian leadership had moved towards bunkers and civilian areas, while the supreme leader had been wounded and badly affected.
The US defence chief said the Iranian leadership had taken shelter underground and that American forces would continue their advance against Iran, adding there would be no mercy in the war.
Hegseth said all Iranian defence companies would soon be destroyed and that the objective of the attacks was to eliminate Iran’s defence capability. He added that key Iranian leaders had disappeared from the public scene.
The US defence secretary said American officials stood ready for aggressive operations inside Iran.
