Hegseth: U.S. forces “destroyed” Iran’s military and paralyzed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared on Wednesday before troops at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar that United States forces have “destroyed” Iran’s military and paralyzed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, as Al Jazeera reports in its live coverage.

“These Americans [here] and their peers have destroyed Iran’s navy, Iran’s air force, their defense systems and their military-industrial base. We wanted to come here to celebrate them and thank them,” Hegseth told U.S. service members stationed in Qatar.

According to Hegseth, the Pentagon has made a “clean break” with the past, with the sole mission of “warfighting” and ensuring troops have the means to “outmatch and defeat the enemy”.

He stressed the department’s three priorities — “reviving the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and restoring deterrence” — saying they were clearly on display in the war against Iran.

His statement came on the same day President Donald Trump said that “very soon you will see things happening” on Iran, while indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the seven-month war continue through intermediaries.