Micah Jonah, March 11, 2026
The United States has pledged to intensify its military campaign against Iran as the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran continues to escalate across the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth said Washington is preparing what he described as the “most intense day” of strikes against targets inside Iran.
Hegseth said the United States believes it is gaining the upper hand in the conflict but declined to provide a timeline for when the war could end, noting that the pace of operations is determined by US President Donald Trump.
According to the Pentagon chief, the United States is pursuing three major objectives in the conflict. These include neutralizing Iran’s missile capabilities, destroying its naval capacity and permanently preventing the country from obtaining nuclear weapons.
“We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,” Hegseth said, adding that the US military would continue operations according to Washington’s strategic timetable.
Iranian leaders, however, have rejected claims that the country is being defeated. Senior Iranian official, Ali Larijani warned that previous attempts by foreign powers to subdue Iran had failed, insisted that the country would continue to resist military pressure.
Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes.
The conflict intensified after US and Israeli strikes on several Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025. Those attacks were followed by a series of retaliatory missile and drone strikes launched by Iran against Israeli targets and other locations in the region.
Recent reports indicate that the fighting has already resulted in significant casualties, including the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 1,200 other individuals.
Tensions have also escalated around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes. Iranian forces have reportedly targeted oil facilities in Gulf countries and disrupted traffic through the strait, contributing to rising global fuel prices.
In response, President Trump warned Iran that it would face “death, fire and fury” if it prevented oil shipments from passing through the waterway. Iranian officials countered that the strait could either remain a route for global prosperity or become a point of confrontation for countries they describe as warmongers.
Meanwhile, US military officials say American forces are continuing operations in the Gulf aimed at locating and striking vessels believed to be laying naval mines.
Although the United States and Israel are working closely in the conflict, Hegseth acknowledged that both countries are pursuing different strategic goals. He noted that Israeli strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure were not necessarily part of Washington’s primary objectives.
As the conflict enters another critical phase, global attention remains focused on the region amid fears that further escalation could disrupt energy supplies and deepen geopolitical tensions worldwide.
