Live Blog Update| War on Iran

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US objectives in Iran have not changed, Hegseth says

19 March 2026 12:26 GMT

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States' objectives in the war against Iran have not changed since strikes started on 28 February.

Hegseth told reporters that the objectives remained to destroy Iran's missile launchers, its defence industrial base and navy, as well as never allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine speak during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on 19 March 2026. (AFP) — US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine at a news conference at the Pentagon, on 19 March 2026 (AFP)