Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a forceful statement during a press conference at U.S. Central Command, highlighting American military resolve amid ongoing operations targeting Iran. Speaking alongside Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, Hegseth emphasized the United States’ sustained capabilities and unwavering commitment to the mission.
Hegseth: Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation. There's no shortage of American will here. We've got no shortage of munitions. Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need to.… pic.twitter.com/oBFp7LiP1l
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 5, 2026
“Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation for the IRGC in Iran,” Hegseth said. “You see, there’s no shortage of American will here. We remember and honor our fallen… but we remember them by rededicating ourselves even more fervently to this mission. Our capabilities, we have only just begun to fight and fight decisively.” He further underscored the scale of U.S. resources, stating, “We’ve got no shortage of munitions. Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need to… Our munitions are full up and our will is ironclad, which means our timeline is ours and ours alone to control as long as it takes to ensure the United States of America achieves these objectives.”
Hegseth: Our munitions are full up. Our will is ironclad. Our timeline is ours and ours alone to control as long as it takes to ensure the United States of America achieves these objectives. We set the tempo. We are built for this fight and we are in it to win it. pic.twitter.com/7jJGGS1lNy
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 5, 2026
Hegseth framed the operation as an unprecedented demonstration of U.S. military strength, describing the coordination of American and Israeli forces and the application of maximum authorities to achieve clear objectives. He stressed that all necessary resources would continue to flow to the battlefield, and that American forces were “built for this fight and… in it to win it.”
Operation Epic Fury, initiated by CENTCOM on February 28 at the direction of the President of the United States, has involved strikes aimed at dismantling Iran’s security apparatus, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, missile and drone launch sites, air defense systems, and military airfields. The operation employed precision munitions from air, land, and sea, and for the first time in combat, CENTCOM’s Task Force Scorpion Strike utilized low-cost one-way attack drones.
The campaign follows the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, escalating regional tensions and prompting a concentrated U.S. military response. CENTCOM reported that U.S. and partner forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks during the initial phase, with no American casualties or significant damage to installations. Operation Epic Fury represents the largest regional concentration of American firepower in a generation.
Hegseth’s remarks underscore both the confidence and readiness of U.S. forces as the campaign continues. By highlighting the country’s overwhelming munitions, full authorities, and combined capabilities with allies, he presented a message that the United States intends to maintain pressure and sustain operations “as long as it takes” to achieve strategic objectives in the region.