US Defence Secretary Vows to 'Finish This War' with Iran
Istanbul (ANTARA) - US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, on Friday (11/9), promised to “finish this war” against Iran during a speech at a Pentagon ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.
Hegseth spoke alongside President Donald Trump and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a ceremony commemorating the victims of the attacks and paying tribute to US military personnel and emergency responders.
“Enemies that hate us still exist,” said Hegseth, warning that adversaries continue to seek ways to limit US strength and kill Americans, adding that Washington remains “vigilant” in the face of such threats.
Turning to the topic of Iran, Hegseth stated that the US has “crushed” those he described as the “world’s most productive state sponsor of terrorism” over the last six months.
He accused the Iranian leadership of desiring the “death” of the US for “almost half a century,” claiming they cheered the September 11 attacks and have sponsored attacks against Americans for decades.
“However, they did not account for this president,” Hegseth said, referring to Trump.
He stated that US forces have killed Iranian leaders, destroyed the country’s air and naval forces, and crippled its air defences.
“We continue to send terrorists to where they belong, to hell, and tankers to the bottom of the sea, where that is indeed their destination,” said Hegseth.
He added that Washington is working to ensure that Iran “will never possess nuclear weapons,” while economic pressure on Tehran continues to intensify.
“We control that Strait,” Hegseth remarked, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
“We will finish this war,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Trump paid tribute to US troops serving in the “war on terror,” as well as to emergency responders and law enforcement officers.
“We honour the military members who are currently working to ensure that the number one sponsor of terror in the world, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never possess nuclear weapons,” said Trump.
“September 11 reminds us of the terrible power of hatred,” Trump said, adding that the 25 years since the attacks have demonstrated the “greater power of the American spirit to endure, rise, and achieve victory.”