US Forces Destroyed Iran’s Military, Paralyzed Nuclear Ambitions: Hegseth

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said American forces have severely damaged Iran’s military capabilities and disrupted its nuclear ambitions.

Addressing military leaders and service members at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth said US forces had destroyed major elements of Iran’s defence sector, including its navy, air force, air-defence systems, leadership and military-industrial capabilities.

Hegseth credited US troops and their partners with disabling what he described as Iran’s “conventional defensive shield” and significantly setting back its nuclear programme.

He said the US military’s objective was to ensure that Iran would never acquire nuclear weapons, adding that American forces had demonstrated their ability to strike Iran’s military capabilities.

Hegseth also said the Pentagon had undergone a major transformation, with its focus increasingly centred on maintaining the ability to fight and win wars.

During the address, he announced plans to reduce the number of US generals and admirals by 20 percent. He described the move as an accountability measure rather than a “purge,” rejecting the characterisation used by some media outlets.

The secretary also unveiled plans for a new Autonomous Warfare Command focused on expanding the US military’s use of drones, artificial intelligence and robotic systems. The command is expected to become operational by October 2027.