Operation Epic Fury is now in its 31st day with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reporting from the field, U.S. strikes hitting Iranian capabilities, Iranian forces showing signs of demoralization, and President Trump signaling tough negotiations while keeping military pressure as leverage.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth provided a front-line update this morning after visiting U.S. forces over the weekend. He declined to name specific locations to protect troops, and he described the trip as a sobering and prideful experience. That balance between operational security and public accountability is central to how leaders report wartime progress.
“The trip was an honor,” Hegseth said. “I had a chance to bear witness and I witnessed the best of America. I witnessed warriors: a brotherhood of men and women, warriors all.” His remarks stressed the morale and professionalism he saw among service members. The tone was one of confidence in capability and purpose.
Hegseth recounted an encounter that captured the mindset on the ground, and he left the anecdote unvarnished. “I witnessed lethality,” Hegseth continued, “I met a junior airman, as the sun was going down and a chill was setting on the tarmac who, when asked what they needed … said, ‘More bombs, sir. And bigger bombs.’ We will happily oblige her.” That blunt exchange underscores a clear operational posture.
He contrasted this campaign with earlier conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying the mood was markedly different. “I witnessed urgency to finish the job,” he said, framing the current fight as time-sensitive and mission-focused. That urgency, he added, comes from a sense that decisive action now can prevent worse threats later.
“It was sheer mission-focus. It was the American warrior unleashed. It was the kind of warfighting American spirit that comes with a clear mission against a determined enemy,” Hegseth added. His language leaves little doubt about the administration’s intent to press advantages hard. He also reiterated a core objective and a firm red line.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and they won’t,” Hegseth said, reiterating the mission of Operation Epic Fury. “We’re closer than ever before to winning.” Those words are meant to reassure the public and signal to Tehran that the United States intends to see the campaign through to success. The message ties military pressure to strategic nonproliferation goals.
On capabilities, Hegseth emphasized changes in the balance of options. “We have more and more options, and they have less.” He also forecast decisive days ahead and pointed to recent indicators of fading Iranian tactical activity. “The upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it,” Hegseth added.
“Of note, the last 24 hours saw the lowest number of enemy missiles and drones fired by Iran.” That drop in hostile launches is being presented as evidence that pressure is shaping battlefield behavior. Hegseth’s assessment ties kinetic successes to a reduction in enemy aggression.
Hegseth reported that forces struck an ammo depot in Isfahan as part of ongoing targeting to degrade Iranian war-fighting capacity. The move fits a pattern of striking supply and storage sites to interrupt sustainment.
He described mounting signs of Iranian demoralization, citing reports of desertions and a fractured chain of command. “If Iran is wise, they will cut a deal,” Hegseth said, framing negotiations as an option grounded in battlefield realities. He also issued a warning tied to regime change and American resolve.
“This new regime, because regime change has occurred, should be wiser than the last,” Hegseth continued, “President Trump will make a deal. He is willing, and the terms of the deal are known to them. If Iran is not willing, then the United States War Department will continue with even more intensity.” That line makes clear the administration’s approach: negotiate from strength or intensify the campaign.
Chairman Caine weighed in on force-level effects and targeting priorities, highlighting systematic efforts against missile and unmanned aerial systems. “We remain focused on interdicting and destroying the logistical and supply chains that feed these programs and this remains a truly joint effort,” he said. He also reported substantial maritime attrition affecting Iranian naval assets.
He noted that more than 150 naval ships have been taken out, including all frigates inside their navy, signaling a significant blow to Iran’s surface fleet. Those losses are being presented as tangible degradation of Tehran’s ability to project power at sea. The combination of sea, air, and logistics strikes is central to the campaign’s design.
Yesterday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. is in “serious discussions” with Iran and outlined hard-line bargaining chips.
“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran. Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells, and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposely not yet ‘touched,'” Trump wrote. “This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror.’ Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The combination of battlefield pressure and blunt diplomacy is the through-line in these remarks from both military and political leaders. Officials are signaling that military options remain active while negotiations proceed under clear conditions.
