US objectives in Iran have not changed, Hegseth says

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the US’s goals in the war against Iran have not changed since February 28, when the attacks began.

According to the Pentagon, the United States has attacked 7,000 targets inside Iran and hit more than 40 Iranian minelayers and 11 submarines.

“Our goals, given directly by America’s first president, remain exactly as they were on day one,” Hegseth told reporters.

Hegseth said, “These are not the media’s goals, they are not Iran’s goals, they are not new goals. Our goals have not changed, in their goal and plan.” he added.

In his opening speech, he criticized the press for several minutes.

The goals are to destroy Iran’s missile launchers, as well as its defense industrial base and navy, and to never allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, Hegseth told reporters.

At the same briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said that the US military is on track to achieve its objectives and that the US is striking deeper into Iranian territory every day.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said at a hearing before the House intelligence committee on Thursday that the goals of the United States and Israel during military action against Iran are not the same.

“The goals set forth by the President are different from the goals set out by the Israeli government,” Gabbard said. he said.

“We can see from the operations that the Israeli government is focused on disabling the Iranian leadership. The President stated that their goal is to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile launch capability, ballistic missile production capability and navy.”