President Donald Trump has signaled a hardline stance following the initiation of Operation Epic Fury, a massive joint military campaign by the United States and Israel. The operation, which began on February 28, was triggered following an airstrike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the wake of his death, the regime appointed his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader. President Trump expressed deep skepticism regarding this succession, stating he does not believe the younger Khamenei “can live in peace.” The President noted that the results of the early-stage operations have significantly surpassed expectations, emphasizing the efficiency of the offensive against Iran. The geopolitical stakes were further elevated by Trump’s stern warning regarding global energy security. In a post on Truth Social, he warned that any attempt by the Iranian regime to obstruct oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz would result in Iran being struck “twenty times harder.” While expressing a desire to avoid total annihilation, Trump highlighted that the United States is prepared to target infrastructure that would make it “virtually impossible” for the nation to ever be built back, effectively threatening the permanent dissolution of the Iranian state as it currently exists. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth provided a detailed assessment of the military achievements to date, describing the campaign as a display of “overwhelming force applied with precision.” According to Hegseth, the United States has struck over 7,000 targets across the country’s military infrastructure. This precision bombing has specifically targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, command and control centers, and integrated air defense systems. Hegseth claimed that Iran’s air defenses have been effectively “flattened,” leaving the nation vulnerable to continued aerial dominance. The impact on Iran’s offensive capabilities has been staggering. Hegseth reported a 90% decrease in ballistic missile and one-way attack UAV (kamikaze drone) strikes against U.S. forces. This is attributed to the systematic destruction of Iran’s defense industrial base, including the factories and production lines necessary to manufacture new weaponry. The strategic dismantling of these facilities aims to ensure that the regime cannot replenish its arsenal as it is depleted. CENTCOM previously noted that 5,000 locations were hit within the first ten days, illustrating the rapid pace of the Epic Fury campaign.
On the maritime front, the Iranian Navy has suffered catastrophic losses. Over 120 navy ships have been damaged or sunk, rendering their surface fleet a non-factor in the conflict. Notably, Hegseth revealed that Iran’s entire submarine fleet—once consisting of eleven vessels—has been eliminated. Military ports are currently described as “crippled,” further isolating the regime from international waters and neutralizing its ability to project power via the sea. These actions are framed by the Pentagon as a necessary response to 47 years of state-sponsored terrorism and regional destabilization. Concluding his briefing, Hegseth framed the conflict as a defense of civilization itself against a “violent, Messianic, Islamist ideology.” He criticized Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and its reliance on proxy militias, arguing that the regime poses a direct threat to freedom and the United States. Hegseth called upon global allies and the domestic press to recognize the courage of President Trump in confronting the “terrorist state,” suggesting that the world owes a debt of gratitude to the administration for neutralizing a regime that has long held the world hostage with its nuclear and missile ambitions.
