US Not Expanding Military Objectives in Iran, Hegseth Says

Pentagon says military campaign focused on destroying Iran's offensive missiles, missile production, and Navy

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the United States is not expanding its military objectives in Iran, despite President Donald Trump's comments that the U.S. must be involved in choosing Iran's next leader. The Pentagon said the ongoing military operation, known as Operation Epic Fury, is focused on destroying Iran's offensive missiles, missile production, and Navy, while preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Why it matters

The comments from Hegseth and Trump suggest potential tensions or differences in the U.S. government's approach to Iran, raising questions about the scope and goals of the military campaign against Iran.

The details

Hegseth said 'there's no expansion in our objectives' and that the U.S. knows 'exactly what we're trying to achieve.' However, Trump told Reuters that the U.S. would 'have to help pick the next person to lead' Iran, indicating a potential desire to influence Iran's leadership. The U.S. has conducted over 2,000 airstrikes against targets in Iran over the past six days as part of Operation Epic Fury.

  • The Pentagon said the military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, has been ongoing.
  • Over the past six days, the U.S. has hit more than 2,000 targets in Iran.

The players

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Defense Secretary.

Donald Trump

President of the United States.

Operation Epic Fury

The name of the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran.

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What they’re saying

“There's no expansion in our objectives. We know exactly what we're trying to achieve.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary (gvwire.com)

“The United States would have to help pick the next person to lead the country.”

— Donald Trump (Reuters)

The takeaway

The conflicting statements from Hegseth and Trump suggest potential disagreements within the U.S. government over the scope and goals of the military campaign against Iran, raising concerns about the coherence and consistency of the U.S. strategy.