The United States has claimed that Iran was forced into accepting a ceasefire after suffering massive military losses in a sustained campaign of strikes, with officials describing Tehran’s forces as “combat ineffective” for years to come.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the operation, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, delivered a decisive blow to Iran’s military capabilities. “Iran begged for this ceasefire… a big day for world peace,” Hegseth said, calling the outcome a “historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield.”

Speaking alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine, Hegseth said U.S. and allied forces had achieved “every single objective” of the campaign. According to Pentagon figures, the operation targeted more than 13,000 sites, including over 4,000 dynamic battlefield targets.

Officials said the strikes destroyed approximately 80 percent of Iran’s air defense systems and more than 90 percent of its naval fleet. “Iran’s Navy is at the bottom of the sea… Iran’s Air Force has been wiped out,” Hegseth claimed.

Caine added that U.S. forces hit over 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, 801 drone storage sites, and nearly 90 percent of Iran’s weapons manufacturing capacity. He also said that close to 80 percent of Iran’s nuclear industrial base had been damaged during the campaign, significantly limiting its ability to sustain military operations.

The operation involved more than 10,000 U.S. military missions, including long-range bomber flights lasting over 30 hours, highlighting what officials described as an unprecedented logistical effort.

Hegseth said Iran’s command-and-control systems had been severely disrupted, leaving its forces unable to coordinate effectively. He warned Tehran against further escalation, saying any renewed military action “would be very, very unwise.”

The ceasefire agreement includes provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. Hegseth confirmed that U.S. forces would remain deployed in the region to ensure compliance and maintain security.

At the same time, Washington reiterated its firm stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “It’s always been non-negotiable that they won’t have nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth said, adding that the U.S. is closely monitoring remaining nuclear material and is prepared to act if necessary.

Despite the ceasefire, the Pentagon confirmed that 13 U.S. service members were killed during the operation, underscoring the scale and intensity of the conflict.

While U.S. officials portray the outcome as a decisive victory, the long-term stability of the ceasefire and broader regional dynamics remain uncertain.