Pete Hegseth attacks media for not being positive enough about US attacks on Iran
Pete Hegseth Criticizes Media for Insufficient Positive Coverage of US-Iran Conflict
On Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated his belief that the US military campaign against Iran has achieved remarkable results, asserting that the strikes have crippled the country’s military capabilities. During a Pentagon press briefing, he directly accused journalists of failing to highlight the United States’ strategic victories in the ongoing conflict.
“The United States is decimating the radical Iranian regime’s military in a way the world has never seen before,” Hegseth declared, emphasizing the destruction of Iran’s air force, navy, and missile defense systems. He claimed the combined US-Israeli air operation has targeted over 15,000 sites since the war began, describing the outcome as a “functionally defeated” missile production network.
Despite these statements, footage released today showed Iran’s top officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, participating in a Quds Day rally in Tehran. Hegseth also alleged that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, sustained injuries during an airstrike, though this has not been independently confirmed.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War corroborated the Pentagon’s assertions, citing satellite imagery that documented significant damage to Iranian military infrastructure. However, the conflict continues, with Iranian state media reporting ongoing attacks on US and Israeli bases in the Gulf region. Hegseth confirmed that an investigation into an airstrike targeting a girls’ school in Iran—killing at least 175 people—is currently underway.
“The only thing prohibiting transit in Hormuz right now is Iran shooting at shipping,” he said, dismissing concerns about the strait’s closure. “It is open for transit should Iran not do that.” Hegseth also highlighted the deployment of precision-guided missiles, claiming they were the first of their kind to strike deep into enemy territory.
During the briefing, Hegseth denied media access to some photographers, citing “unflattering” images of himself. He singled out CNN, suggesting that its leadership should be replaced by David Ellison, a Trump ally set to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” he remarked.
Throughout the session, Hegseth maintained his rhetoric of military dominance, while subtly undermining coverage of the war’s human and logistical challenges. He concluded by invoking divine faith, urging Americans to pray for US troops and declaring his allegiance to “God, the troops, the country, the constitution, and the president of the United States.”
