Washington, April 8 – The United States has “devastated” Iran’s military capabilities and forced it to accept a ceasefire under overwhelming pressure, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, describing the outcome of Operation 'Epic Fury' as a “historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield.”
“Iran begged for this ceasefire… a big day for world peace,” Hegseth said, adding that the campaign had “decimated Iran’s military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come.”
Speaking alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force, General Dan Caine, Hegseth said the US and its partners achieved “every single objective… on plan, on schedule.”
The Pentagon outlined the scale of the operation. US forces struck more than 13,000 targets, including over 4,000 dynamic battlefield targets, while destroying approximately 80 per cent of Iran’s air defence systems and more than 90 per cent of its naval fleet.
“Iran’s Navy is at the bottom of the sea… Iran’s Air Force has been wiped out,” Hegseth said.
Caine said the joint force also destroyed more than 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, 801 drone storage sites, and around 90 per cent of Iran’s weapons factories.
“Nearly 80 per cent of Iran’s nuclear industrial base was hit,” he said, adding that the campaign “struck at the heart of Iran’s ability to project power.”
The US military flew more than 10,000 missions, including long-range bomber sorties exceeding 30 hours, in what officials described as an unprecedented logistical effort.
Hegseth said Iran’s command and control systems were “so decimated they can’t really talk and coordinate,” warning that any further military action by Tehran “would be very, very unwise.”
The ceasefire includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Hegseth said US forces would remain in the region to ensure compliance.
“We’re not going anywhere… we’ll stay put, stay ready, stay vigilant,” he said.
He added that Iran had agreed to allow ships to pass through the strait, though the US expects other countries to help maintain security.
The administration also reiterated its red line on Iran’s nuclear programme.
“It’s always been non negotiable that they won’t have nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth said, noting that the US is monitoring Iran’s remaining nuclear material and would remove it “by any means necessary.”
Hegseth described the outcome as a result of military pressure backed by the threat of wider strikes on Iran’s infrastructure.
“We had a target set, locked and loaded… power plants, bridges and oil and energy infrastructure,” he said, adding that Iran “understood their ability… was in President Trump’s hands.”
He said the US chose restraint after Iran agreed to terms. “He chose mercy… he’s a president of peace,” Hegseth said.
Caine highlighted the rescue of downed US pilots during the operation as evidence of the military’s capability, calling it a demonstration of “tenacity, creativity, courage and grit.”
The Pentagon also confirmed that 13 US service members were killed during Operation Epic Fury.
The conflict marked one of the most direct and sustained US military campaigns against Iran in decades, targeting its nuclear, missile and defence infrastructure.