Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday (March 19) that strikes on Iran's military capabilities on Kharg Island give the U.S. control over the fate of the country.

Hegseth also said that the United States' objectives in the war against Iran have not changed since strikes started on February 28.

The United States has carried out strikes against 7,000 targets inside Iran so far, and hit more than 40 Iranian mine-laying vessels and 11 submarines, according to the Pentagon.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 19, 2026) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Access all)

1. U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH AND CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE ARRIVING FOR BRIEFING

2. SIDE VIEW OF HEGSETH AND CAINE AT BRIEFING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE SAYING:

"Each day we continued to attack deeper into Iranian territory, as reported by U.S. command. Yesterday, the U.S. military dropped 5,000 lb penetrator weapons into underground storage facilities, storing coastal defense cruise missiles and other support equipment. These weapons are bespoke, only designed to get through concrete and or rocks and function after penetrating those those barriers. We continue to hunt and kill mines, storage facilities and naval ammunition depots.

We continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 mine layers. And the pressure will continue. We're flying further to the east now and penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to hunt and kill one way attack garrisons. Since destroying Iran's ability to project power outside of its borders."

3. SIDE VIEW OF HEGSETH AND CAINE AT BRIEFING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE SAYING:

"The A-10 Warthog is now in the fight across the southern flank and is hunting and killing fast attack watercraft in the Straits of Hormuz.

In addition, AH64, Apaches have joined the fight on the southern flank, and they continue to work on the southern side. And that includes some of our allies who are using Apaches to handle one way attack drones in Iraq. Age 60 fours have been striking against Iranian aligned militia groups to make sure that we suppress any threat in Iraq against U.S. forces or U.S. interests.

5. REPORTER

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

“This a clear set of objectives. The president has given us every capability we need to accomplish that. We've got the best in the world in uniform, executing it on the ground They believe in and are invested in this mission. And it will be at the president's choosing ultimately where we say, hey, we've achieved what we need to on behalf of the American people to ensure our security.

So no, no time said on that. But we're very much on track”

7. SIDE VIEW OF HEGSETH AND CAINE AT BRIEFING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL DAN CAINE SAYING: SAYING:

“Thanks for the question on the missile strikes. You know, as we said and have always said, clearly they came into this fight with a lot of weapons. This is why we continue to be as aggressive and assertive as we can against their ballistic missile capability, both their medium range ballistic missile capability and their short range missile capability. So we are continuing to hunt and find them and kill them, and we will continue to do so.

So, they still retain some capability. And we have layered defenses throughout the region that will allow us to protect those. And we're working with our partners across the Gulf region to help them improve any defensive capabilities that they may need.”

9. REPORTERS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

“As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys. So we're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is everything's refilled and not just refilled, but above and beyond.

President Trump, as he said, rebuilt the military in his first term, didn't think he'd use it as dynamically in his second, but he had. So, thank goodness he did that. And an investment like this is meant to say, hey, we will replace anything that was spent. And now that we're reviving our defense industrial base and rebuilding the arsenal of freedom and cutting deals like our great deputy secretaries here is doing long lead times on exquisite munitions. We're going to be refilled faster than anyone imagined.”

11. SIDE VIEW OF HEGSETH AND CAINE AT BRIEFING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

“As far as the Internet. We're watching the regime try to tighten its grip as much as possible. We're obviously taking countermeasures, many of which we can't talk about here, to ensure that messaging is delivered not just to the Iranian people writ large, but to the right audiences.

Certain audiences that need to hear certain things about what their fate might look like or what their choices are.”

13. REPORTERS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

“Iran knows when you hit Kharg Island and you hit military capable capabilities on cargo, which is the only thing we hit, we can hold anything at issue, anything.

The United States military controls the fate of that country. Iran has the ability to make the right choices. It should not, going forward target Arab allies, Arab countries trying to create pain, the pain that they created themselves. Thank you all very much. Appreciate it. Thank you for your time.”

15. HEGSETH AND CAINE EXITING BRIEFING