Washington, March 4: The United States has dismissed peace appeals from China and Russia regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran. Officials stated that the focus of this struggle is primarily on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and military capabilities.
During a Pentagon press briefing, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. is not engaging in discussions with Beijing or Moscow, asserting that they are not central to the current conflict. He remarked, “I have no message for them; they are not really a factor here. Our issue is not with them; it is with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
This statement comes as the U.S. military enters the fourth day of Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iran’s missile systems, naval assets, and military infrastructure. According to American officials, the operation commenced after intelligence indicated that Tehran was not negotiating in good faith regarding its nuclear program.
Hegseth noted, “The evidence we have after 12 days of conflict shows that Iran had no intention of reaching a nuclear agreement that would prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons.” He further stated that the U.S. believes Iran continues to pursue the capability to develop nuclear arms while also possessing significant missile assets. “They have thousands of missiles aimed at us,” he added.
The Pentagon indicated that this military operation is designed to neutralize Iran’s capabilities to threaten U.S. forces, regional allies, and international maritime routes. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Air Force General Dan Ken, reported that the operation has already targeted thousands of sites in Iran. “We have attacked over 2,000 targets so far,” he confirmed.
General Ken also mentioned that the campaign has significantly reduced Iranian missile launches, with ballistic missile firings dropping by 86% compared to the first day of the operation. U.S. officials stated that the focus of this campaign is to eliminate Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders. Ken remarked, “This operation was initiated with clear military objectives to eliminate Iran’s capacity to project power now and in the future.”
The Pentagon noted that several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan, are assisting in defense against Iranian missile and drone attacks.
While U.S. forces have achieved initial successes in the conflict, officials warned that the war is still in its early stages. General Ken stated, “We are 100 hours in. This is still very much in the early phase.”
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated in recent months, with the U.S. accusing Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons and supporting attacks on American forces and allies in the region.
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