‘Iran cannot outlast us,’ says US defense chief

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R) and a U.S. military official monitor operations during a briefing at the White House in Washington, United States, on March 02, 2026. [The White House via X Account – Anadolu Agency]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that “Iran cannot outlast us” as the US signaled a widening military campaign following coordinated strikes with Israel since Saturday, Anadolu reports.

“I stand before you today with one unmistakable message about operation, effort security. America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy, under the direct command of President (Donald) Trump,” Hegseth said at a news conference alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.

His remarks came after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top security officials.

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“More and larger waves are coming. We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating,” Hegseth said.

Caine, for his part, said the US has hit more than 2,000 targets and destroyed over 20 Iranian naval vessels, including one submarine.

“We will now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory and creating additional freedom of maneuver for US forces,” Caine added.

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