Washington, March 10, (NationPress) US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday assured both Americans and allies that the current military engagement against Iran is designed to be strictly limited. He emphasized that the operation has well-defined goals and will not evolve into a drawn-out conflict.

During a press conference with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine at the Pentagon, Hegseth highlighted that President Donald Trump has outlined a precise mission for 'Operation Epic Fury', and the administration is committed to steering clear of the open-ended wars of the past.

“This is not an endless operation. It’s not going to be protracted. We are ensuring there is no mission creep,” Hegseth stated.

He clarified that this operation focuses on achieving specific military objectives without expanding into broader hostilities.

“The President has set forth a very specific mission that we intend to achieve,” he said. “Our role is to relentlessly deliver on that.”

According to the Defense Secretary, the final say on the duration of the operation rests with the President.

“He controls the throttle,” Hegseth remarked. “He is the one empowered by the American people to make decisions about when we are meeting those objectives.”

This Pentagon briefing came as the US campaign marked its tenth day, with officials noting that American forces had targeted thousands of sites across Iran.

Caine mentioned that the military is focused on three key objectives: dismantling Iranian missile and drone capabilities, degrading Iran’s naval forces, and penetrating deeper into its military-industrial complex.

“The joint force remains dedicated to these three military objectives,” Caine stated.

He added that US operations aim to thwart any potential attacks on American personnel and allies in the region.

“This includes targeting launch sites, command and control systems, and stockpiles before they pose a threat to our forces, facilities, and partners,” he explained.

Caine pointed out that previous strikes have already diminished Iran’s capability to launch offensive actions.

Hegseth claimed that this campaign is fundamentally distinct from earlier US military engagements in the Middle East.

“This is not 2003,” he declared. “We are not engaged in endless nation-building or falling into those types of quagmires.”

He also mentioned that American forces are executing the mission with overwhelming force.

“We are achieving decisive victories with remarkable efficiency, complete air superiority, and an unwavering determination to fulfill the President’s objectives,” Hegseth remarked.

At the same time, the Defense Secretary acknowledged the apprehensions many Americans have regarding the possibility of a prolonged conflict.

“I understand those worries because I've heard from numerous individuals who have experienced it. I went through two decades of those wars myself,” he noted.

He emphasized that the administration is focused on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and neutralizing any threats to the United States and its allies.

“We will not be subjected to a nuclear blackmail scenario involving conventional missiles that can target our citizens,” Hegseth stated.

The conflict escalated following the initiation of 'Operation Epic Fury', a US-led military endeavor aimed at neutralizing Iranian missile, drone, and naval capabilities across the region.