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Hegseth: US achieved 'decisive victory' in Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei ...
Jerusalem Post/World News"We hope and believe the ceasefire will hold," said Hegseth, who also thanked Israel for being a "brave, capable, and willing ally on this battlefield." U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (R) listens as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 08, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.(photo credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFAPRIL 8, 2026 15:22Updated: APRIL 8, 2026 15:57US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that America had a "decisive military victory against Iran" in comments to the press on Wednesday. He added that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded and disfigured.Regarding the ceasefire, Hegseth stated that Iran had "begged" for it, saying the US had used "less than 10%" of its military capabilities in Operation Epic Fury.Hegseth noted that the US had conducted 800 strikes on Tuesday night prior to the ceasefire, "destroying" Iran's defense industrial base, further describing Iranian factories as having been "razed to the ground."Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth said the Strait is "open" and that Iran will allow ships to transit it, further stating that US forces will ensure Iran abides by the ceasefire's terms and that the US military will be "hanging around" Iran."We hope and believe the ceasefire will hold," said Hegseth. "Iran would be wise to get the word out to their troops to stop firing." Gen. Dan Caine during a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 08, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. (credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)Hegseth also discussed the issues of Iran's enriched uranium, saying that Iran will either give the uranium to the US, or "we'll take it out."To our Israeli allies," added Hegseth, "thank you for being a brave, capable, and willing ally on this battlefield."Gen. Dan Caine offers commentsUS Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine also spoke to the press on Wednesday, stating that US forces had struck over 13,000 Iranian targets over the course of the operation.Caine reiterated Hegseth's claims of US victory, stating that US military objectives in Iran "have been met."Regarding the results of the operation, Caine stated that Iran had lost 80% of its air defense systems, 90% of its weapon factories, and over 90% of its conventional naval forces."It will take years for Iran to rebuild any major surface combatants," said Caine.Caine added that the US will "continue to monitor" the movement...
Khamenei says Tehran 'astonished the world' during US-Israeli war on ...
In a statement read out on television, Mojtaba Khamenei said Tehran will ‘demand compensation’ for damages due to the war.Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has claimed a “final victory” in the war with Israel and the United States, as a fragile ceasefire continues to be threatened by Israel’s continuing offensive on Lebanon.Marking 40 days since his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US-Israeli attack on the first day of the war, Khamenei said in a statement on Thursday that, over the course of the war, Iran had “astonished the world”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Does a US-Iran ceasefire mean the end of the war?list 2 of 3US Democrats warn Trump that Iran ceasefire must apply to Lebanonlist 3 of 3Sidon residents recall horror of Israeli strikes after Iran ceasefireend of listKhamenei, 58, who has not been seen or heard from since the war began, said in a statement read out on television that Tehran was not seeking war but was fighting for its legitimate rights.“We will certainly not leave the criminal aggressors who attacked our country unpunished,” he said, adding that Iran will “demand compensation for all damages, as well as the blood of the martyrs and the wounded”.Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blockaded since the war broke out on February 28 and has become a key sticking point in US-Iran proposals to end the war, Khamenei said that his country will move towards a “new phase” without elaborating.On Wednesday, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in a deal mediated by Pakistan to allow for negotiations to take place, after attacks on Gulf nations and the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz had caused fears of a longer conflict whose impact would be felt long after it ended.As part of the ceasefire, Iran agreed to allow shipping to pass through the important waterway, with reports that Tehran would impose a toll on ships transiting the strait to fund the country’s reconstruction efforts.Yet, Khamenei warned that Iran was ready to respond if attacks were to end the pause in hostilities.“Our hands are on the trigger,” he said.However, a devastating wave of Israeli air strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday killed more than 300 people, threatening the US-Iran truce amid disagreement on whether Beirut was part of the agreement.While Iran and Pakistan state that Lebanon was part of the deal, the US and Israel have said that it was not. World leaders have also called for Lebanon to be pa...
'Enemy begging for ceasefire': Iran declares victory, says 'nearly all ...
People walk next to a banner with a picture of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, at Tajrish Bazaar, ahead of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 19, 2026.
Hegseth: US achieved 'decisive victory' in Iran, claims Mojtaba ...
Hegseth: US achieved 'decisive victory' in Iran, claims Mojtaba Khamenei disfigured Posted Wednesday, April 8, 2026 11:22 am Via The Jerusalem Post
