Pete Hegseth attacks media during a Pentagon press conference, accusing journalists of failing to portray US attacks on Iran in a positive light despite what he described as sweeping battlefield successes.
The US defense secretary said the military campaign against Iran had significantly weakened the country’s armed forces. He argued the scale of destruction inflicted during the operation was unprecedented.
Speaking alongside senior military officials, Hegseth said the combined US and Israeli strikes had targeted thousands of strategic locations across Iran.
He claimed the campaign had dismantled major parts of Iran’s military infrastructure, including key air defense systems and missile facilities.
According to the Pentagon, the aerial operation has struck more than 15,000 targets since the beginning of the conflict.
Officials said these strikes included attacks on air bases, naval installations, radar systems and missile production sites.
Hegseth said the operation had effectively crippled Iran’s ability to defend its airspace.
He also claimed that Iran’s missile production capacity had been severely damaged during the strikes.
During the briefing, Hegseth used strong language to describe the impact of the military campaign.
He said the United States was decimating the Iranian regime’s military capabilities on an unprecedented scale.
The defense secretary argued that Iranian leadership figures were being forced into hiding because of the intense pressure created by the attacks.
However, reports from Tehran appeared to contradict those claims.
Videos circulated online showing senior Iranian officials participating in the annual Quds Day rally in the capital.
Among those reportedly present were President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior political figure Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Their public appearances suggested the leadership was still operating openly despite the ongoing conflict.
Hegseth also made an unverified claim regarding Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
He suggested the leader had been wounded and possibly disfigured during recent strikes.
No independent evidence has confirmed the claim.
Analysts monitoring the conflict have confirmed that several Iranian military facilities have been heavily damaged.
Satellite imagery reviewed by independent research groups indicates widespread destruction at missile complexes and military bases.
Airfields, naval installations and logistics hubs have also reportedly been struck during the campaign.
Despite these losses, Iran has continued launching retaliatory attacks.
Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had fired missiles and drones at US bases in the Gulf region.
Some attacks also targeted Israeli positions.
These ongoing strikes suggest Iran still retains the capacity to respond militarily.
Another issue raised during the briefing involved a controversial airstrike in Iran.
Hegseth confirmed that the US military had opened an investigation into an attack on a girls’ school.
The strike reportedly killed at least 175 people.The Pentagon said the investigation is being led by a senior officer who is not part of US Central Command.
Officials say this approach is intended to ensure independence and transparency.
Hegseth declined to comment on the details of the incident while the investigation continues.
Preliminary reports indicate that the US military may have been responsible for the strike.The incident has sparked concern among international observers and humanitarian organizations.
Human rights advocates have called for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the bombing.
Meanwhile, senior military officials revealed that the United States had deployed a new type of precision missile during the campaign.
According to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the weapons were used in combat for the first time.
The missiles are designed to travel longer distances and strike targets with greater accuracy than previous systems.
Military planners say the weapons allow the United States to hit targets deep inside hostile territory.
The deployment of the missiles marks a technological escalation in the conflict.
Despite claims of overwhelming success, the Pentagon acknowledged that challenges remain.
One of the most significant issues is the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway is one of the world’s most important routes for transporting oil.
A large portion of global energy supplies passes through the narrow channel each day.
The Pentagon said commercial shipping in the strait remains limited because of security risks.Naval escort operations for cargo vessels have not yet begun.
Hegseth blamed Iran for the disruption.
He said the strait would remain open if Iranian forces stopped targeting ships.
According to him, the primary threat to maritime traffic comes from Iranian military actions.
Another major theme of the briefing was Hegseth’s criticism of the press.
Pete Hegseth attacks media repeatedly during the conference, arguing that journalists are focusing too much on negative developments.
He said news organizations should pay greater attention to the strategic gains achieved by US forces.At one point he suggested alternative headlines that television networks could use when reporting the war.
One example he gave was the phrase “Iran increasingly desperate.”
Hegseth argued that such wording would better reflect the military situation.
He also criticized several specific media outlets for their coverage.
Among them was CNN, which he mentioned directly during the briefing.
Hegseth referred to ongoing negotiations involving media executive David Ellison.
Ellison is reportedly attempting to acquire the parent company of CNN.
The defense secretary suggested that changes in ownership could lead to shifts in editorial policy.
Another controversy surrounding the briefing involved restrictions on press access.
Some journalists reported they were denied entry to the event.
Print photographers were also reportedly excluded.Reports suggested that the restrictions were related to concerns about unflattering photographs.
Press freedom advocates criticized the decision.
They argued that limiting media access undermines transparency during wartime.
Despite the disputes with journalists, Hegseth ended the briefing with a message directed at the American public.
He asked citizens to pray for US troops involved in the conflict.The defense secretary said national unity and spiritual support were important during wartime.
He also described the values guiding his leadership role.
According to Hegseth, he serves God, the troops, the country, the constitution and the president.The briefing highlighted the growing tension between the Pentagon and news organizations covering the war.
It also illustrated how the conflict is being fought not only on the battlefield but also in the information space.
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Pete Hegseth attacks media as debates continue about how the war should be reported and understood.
Analysts say the confrontation with Iran remains highly volatile.
Missile exchanges, airstrikes and maritime disruptions suggest the conflict could continue escalating in the coming weeks.
The information battle between governments and the press is likely to remain a central feature of the war.
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