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US Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Thursday backed away from previous estimates of how long the Iran war would last and said Congress will be asked for money to continue to fund the conflict and replenish munitions stocks.
The Trump administration and Mr Hegseth have previously given estimates of four to six weeks for the duration of the war, which the US and Israel launched on Iran on February 28.
At a Pentagon press conference, Mr Hegseth said things are “very much on plan” but only President Donald Trump can decide when the war will end.
“It will be at the President’s choosing, ultimately, where we say, ‘Hey, we’ve achieved what we need to on behalf of the American people to ensure our security.’ So no time set on that,” Mr Hegseth said. “But we’re very much on track.”
The Washington Post on Wednesday reported that the Pentagon, which has an annual budget of about $1 trillion, would be asking Congress for a supplemental $200 billion for the Iran war.
“As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move,” Mr Hegseth said. “Obviously it takes money to kill bad guys.
“So we're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future,” he added, noting that some of that money would be used to refill US munitions stocks that have been expended.
He promised that the conflict will not become a “forever war” like the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. “Just 19 days into this conflict, [the media want you to think] that we’re somehow spinning towards an endless abyss, or a forever war, or a quagmire,” he said.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. Hear it from me, one of hundreds of thousands who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, who watched previous foolish politicians like [George W] Bush, [Barack] Obama and [Joe] Biden squander American credibility. This is not those wars. President Trump knows better. Epic Fury is different.”
He also said the largest daily number of US strikes in the conflict to date would take place on Thursday. He was not asked about a Reuters report that said the Pentagon is considering sending thousands of additional troops to the region.
Washington's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, said the US has struck 44 Iranian mine layers since the war began.
“We continue to hunt and kill mine-storage facilities and naval ammunition depots, we continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 mine layers, and the pressure will continue,” he said alongside Mr Hegseth. “We’re flying further to the East now, and penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to hunt and kill one-way attack drones.”
Gen Caine also said the US is now flying A-10 Warthogs, the close air-support ground attack planes used in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are being used to fire at fast attack boats in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Hegseth lashed out at European allies, who for the most part have rebuffed Mr Trump's requests to help secure the strait.
“The world, the Middle East, our ungrateful allies in Europe, even segments of our own press, should be saying one thing to President Trump – thank you,” Mr Hegseth said.
He described Israel as an “incredible and capable partner” and said it was pursuing its own objectives when it attacked Iran's South Pars gasfield in the Arabian Gulf on Wednesday.
Mr Trump has claimed Washington had no prior knowledge of Israel’s strike and vowed there would be no more Israeli attacks on the major energy hub.
