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US Won't End Iran War Until Enemy is Defeated Says Hegseth (Full Presser)
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March 10, 2026
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29:42Now PlayingThe Pentagon said it’s conducting the most intense day of attacks against Iran and won’t give up until the Islamic Republic is defeated, striking a more aggressive tone after President Donald Trump’s suggestion the war could end soon.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the comments during a press conference Tuesday. They suggested the US-Israeli campaign that began on Feb. 28 may still have some way to run, creating further disruption in the oil industry and global markets. The US and Israel are conducting their most intense day of attacks yet against Iran and won’t give up until the Islamic Republic is beaten, the Pentagon said, striking a more aggressive tone after President Donald Trump’s suggestion the war could end soon.
“We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a press conference Tuesday. “We do so on our timeline and at our choosing.”
His comments indicate Washington isn’t looking for ways to de-escalate the conflict, which has spread across the Middle East and pushed the region’s energy giants to crisis point.
Oil retreated from highs of almost $120 a barrel on Trump’s proclamation that the campaign is ahead of schedule, but the critical Strait of Hormuz remains all but shut and Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have all slashed production. Asked whether he would be willing to talk to the Iranians, Trump said it would be possible but was non-committal, Fox News reported. Iranian officials have pushed back against that idea, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf saying the country is “absolutely” not seeking a ceasefire.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to brief reporters at 2 p.m. in Washington on Tuesday.
The US and Israel bombarded Iran for an 11th day, with the Islamic Republic firing drones and missiles at targets across the Middle East in return.
The biggest oil refinery at Ruwais in the United Arab Emirates halted operations after a drone strike caused a fire in the industrial area in which it’s located, according to people familiar with the matter. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. was assessing damage at the plant, the people said.
Read More: Biggest UAE Refinery Halts as Precaution After Drone Attack
“We’re concerned at the apparent lack of a joint plan on how this war can quickly be brought to a convincing conclusion,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters. Addressing concerns about soaring energy prices, Trump said Monday that the US Navy will escort tankers to maintain a steady oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure of the waterway — vital to the world’s flow of petroleum — has created bottlenecks and caused regional energy giants to slash production. There’s little sign Hormuz can be opened quickly without at least a pause in hostilities.
Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser called the disruption “the biggest crisis the region’s oil and gas industry has faced.”
Brent crude eased to about $91 on Tuesday following Trump’s comments about the war ending soon. That’s still more than 50% higher than at the start of the year.
There are early signs Iran’s attacks on some countries, including the UAE, are waning. Countries from Australia to South Korea and the UK have also helped to boost defenses of Gulf allies or are assessing requests to do so.
“Iran fired the lowest number of missiles they’ve been capable of firing” in the past 24 hours, Hegseth said.
Airlines in the Persian Gulf are slowly starting to increase flights even as countries continue to intercept missiles and drones. Thousands of passengers have been stranded in various locations due to the war’s impact on aviation via the region.
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