US secretary of war Pete Hegseth on Wednesday claimed that Iran “begged for ceasefire” after the Operation Epic Fury “decimated their military and rendered it’s combat-ineffective.”Addressing a press briefing, Hegseth credited US President Donald Trump for shaping the moment. “…President Trump forged this moment. Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it...Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield…” he said.“Operation Epic Fury decimated Iran’s military and rendered it combat-ineffective for years to come…,” he added describing the operation as a major strategic success.The Pentagon chief also issued a strong warning over Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, saying the US would ensure it is secured, by force if necessary. While he did not elaborate on how this would be achieved, he indicated that Washington was closely monitoring the situation.“We’re watching it. We know what they have, and they will give it up, and we’ll get it, and we’ll take it. If we have to, we can do it in any, any means necessary,” Hegseth said. “They’ll give it to us voluntarily, we’ll get it, we’ll take it, we’ll take it out, or if we have to do something else ourselves, like we did Midnight Hammer or something like that, we reserve that opportunity,” he added.Hegseth’s remarks signal a continued hardline stance by Washington, with the US keeping the option of additional strikes on the table if its demands are not met.The Pentagon chief’s comments came after Trump, who had earlier warned of wiping out Iran’s “whole civilization,” shifted tone and announced a ceasefire with Tehran, describing it as a “total and complete victory” following 38 days of Operation Epic Fury.However, Tehran presented a contrasting narrative. The Islamic Republic, led by Mojtaba Khamenei, also claimed victory, citing Washington’s acceptance of its 10-point proposal as evidence of both battlefield and diplomatic success.
