On Monday, March 2nd, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, and the Secretary of Defense (War Secretary), Pete Hegseth, held a press conference to brief the media on the United States’ “Operation Epic Wrath” military action in Iran.
This press conference marked the first public announcement following the joint military operation initiated by the Trump administration with Israel on Saturday, February 28th. The success of eliminating Iran’s top leader, Ha’menei, on the first day of the military operation is seen as a crucial turning point.
During the Monday morning press briefing, Secretary Hegseth stated that the objectives of “Operation Epic Wrath” are very clear: to destroy Iran’s offensive missiles, dismantle their missile production facilities, and cripple their navy and other security infrastructure to prevent them from ever acquiring nuclear weapons.
He emphasized that the mission in Iran is focused on destroying their missiles and navy and thwarting Tehran’s development of nuclear weapons, clarifying that this action is not akin to the Iraq war and will not be an endless conflict.
“This is not a so-called ‘regime change’ war, but the Iranian regime has indeed undergone change as a result,” Hegseth said. “This is more advantageous for the world.”
The Secretary of Defense stressed that the United States did not instigate this war, pointing out that Iran has been engaging in “unilateral warfare” against the U.S. for decades.
“We did not provoke this war, but under the President’s leadership, we are bringing an end to this conflict,” he added.
It was reported that the President had instructed General Caine several weeks ago to formulate a series of military plans targeting Iran.
General Caine, a former F-16 fighter pilot and military liaison officer for the CIA, held a press conference at the Pentagon in June 2025 with Secretary Hegseth, detailing the previous U.S. strikes on key nuclear facilities in Iran.
During the briefing at the Pentagon, General Caine first expressed condolences to the families of the fourth U.S. soldier who died in action in Kuwait over the weekend while on a mission against Iran.
“First, on behalf of the Joint Forces, I extend my deepest condolences to the war department personnel who have fallen in battle and been injured up to this point,” Caine said. “As the Secretary mentioned, they are heroes, representing the finest of our country. They are true exemplars of selfless dedication. We offer our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and comrades.”
“We grieve with you,” he said, “We will never forget you.”
Secretary Hegseth also began his speech by stating that “a grateful nation” is mourning these four fallen American soldiers, calling them “the best of America.”
“May we proceed with the remaining actions in a manner that honors them,” the Secretary said.
General Caine mentioned that achieving military objectives in Iran will take time as the operation continues, and he anticipates further casualties among U.S. forces.
“We expect more losses, and we will continue to strive to minimize the casualties of the U.S. military,” he said.
He added, “The military objectives assigned to the Central Command and the Joint Forces will require some time to accomplish, and in some instances, it will be a challenging and arduous task.”
According to Iranian state media reports, the late Supreme Leader Ha’menei’s widow, Mansoureh Khojasteh, was injured in an attack and succumbed to her injuries.
(The article will be continuously updated with news conference content)