Hegseth sends strong warning to Iran if they threaten Americans: 'Iranian navy will be destroyed'

WASHINGTON, DC: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday, February 28, delivered a forceful warning to Iran, declaring that any threat to Americans would trigger overwhelming retaliation, including the destruction of Iran’s naval forces.

Framing the military action as a direct consequence of Tehran’s refusal to negotiate, Hegseth said the regime had been given an opportunity to make a deal but chose confrontation instead. He made clear that Washington now intends to act decisively.

Defense Secretary issues strong warning to Iran

Hegseth said the United States has reached its limit when it comes to threats against its citizens. He warned that American forces are fully prepared to track down and eliminate those responsible for targeting Americans anywhere in the world.

“If you k**l or threaten Americans anywhere in the world — as Iran has — then we will hunt you down, and we will k**l you,” he said. 

He described the current military campaign as a long-overdue response to decades of hostility. According to Hegseth, previous administrations failed to confront the regime directly, while President Donald Trump has now moved to change that approach.

“For almost fifty years, Iran has targeted and k**led Americans, always seeking the world’s most powerful weapons to further their radical cause,” Hegseth said. “Last night, unlike any previous president, President Trump began dealing with this cancer.”

He went further, warning that Iran’s missile capabilities and naval forces would not be allowed to threaten American lives.

“We will not tolerate powerful missiles targeting the American people. Those missiles will be destroyed, along with Iran’s missile production. The Iranian navy will be destroyed. And, as President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.

The start of Operation Epic Fury

Following orders from President Trump, the US launched a large-scale campaign known as Operation Epic Fury. Hegseth described it as “the most lethal, most complex, and most-precision aerial operation in history.”

The operation reportedly targeted key military infrastructure, including missile production facilities and strategic assets tied to Iran’s defense capabilities. While officials did not disclose operational specifics, Hegseth emphasized that the objective is clear: eliminate threats before they can strike Americans.

He concluded by expressing confidence in US forces carrying out the mission.

“The United States did not start this conflict, but we will finish it,” Hegseth said. “May God’s providence protect them in this vital mission.”