In an interview with CBS News, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed that the United States will ensure that Iran never achieves its nuclear aspirations. He indicated that there would eventually be a moment when Tehran would have no options left but to surrender. Hegseth reassured that the US is prepared to take all necessary measures to achieve its objectives concerning Iran, highlighting the seriousness of America's military stance in the region.

Hegseth reaffirmed President Donald Trump's earlier remarks regarding military casualties, claiming that military operations inevitably involve losses. He stated that additional losses are anticipated but emphasized that ongoing military actions against Iran are proceeding according to plan, without any premature declarations of victory. The Secretary described the military engagement with Iran as intentionally asymmetric and noted the collaboration with Israel to leverage their air power, which he labelled as the world's strongest aerial force.

Moreover, Hegseth pointed out that the US has not yet commenced with the deployment of heavy bombs against Iranian military targets, implying that a more extensive military campaign is still forthcoming. He concluded by asserting that Iran's military capabilities are diminishing due to the continuous strikes from US forces, and that Israel's involvement enhances the destruction potential of these operations, suggesting a potent military alliance in the ongoing conflict.