U.S. Announces Intensified Attacks Inside Iran as Conflict Escalates

The United States has announced plans to carry out stronger and more extensive attacks inside Iran on Tuesday as the conflict in the region continues to escalate.

Speaking at a press conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the duration of the ongoing war involving Iran and Israel will depend entirely on decisions made by President Donald Trump.

Hegseth stated that Tuesday could become the most intense day of U.S. strikes inside Iran since the start of the conflict. Responding to a question about how long the war might last, he said the authority to determine the course and conclusion of the operation rests fully with the U.S. president, making it impossible to predict its duration in advance.

Meanwhile, the United States’ top military officer, General Dan Caine, said one of the main objectives of the campaign is the complete destruction of Iran’s navy. He noted that operations are already underway using artillery, fighter jets, bombers, and sea-launched missiles to achieve that goal.

Iran, however, has warned that it may halt all oil exports through the Persian Gulf if the conflict continues. In response, President Trump issued a strong warning, saying Tehran would face severe consequences if it attempted to disrupt oil shipments.

General Caine also said U.S. forces are continuing efforts to identify and destroy Iranian mine-laying ships and storage facilities in order to keep maritime traffic moving normally.

During the briefing, Hegseth accused Iran of moving rocket launchers into civilian areas such as schools and hospitals to avoid being targeted. However, he did not directly comment on reports that more than 150 people were killed earlier in the war when a U.S. strike hit a primary school in the southern city of Minab.