WEBVTT 00:13.380 --> 00:15.939 Iran has been a threat to the United 00:15.939 --> 00:19.159 States and the free world for 47 years . 00:20.309 --> 00:22.476 Chance of death to America , targeting 00:22.476 --> 00:25.069 our people , killing Americans , lying 00:25.069 --> 00:27.069 and blackmailing their way toward a 00:27.069 --> 00:30.350 nuclear weapon , so they thought . No 00:30.350 --> 00:34.119 longer Not on our watch . Other 00:34.119 --> 00:36.230 presidents marked time and kicked the 00:36.230 --> 00:38.430 can down the road . President Trump 00:38.810 --> 00:41.689 made history . From the strike that 00:41.689 --> 00:44.580 took out Qasem Soleimani . To tearing 00:44.580 --> 00:48.110 up the disastrous Obama-Iran deal . To 00:48.110 --> 00:50.332 the precision campaign that obliterated 00:50.332 --> 00:52.221 Iran's nuclear sites in Operation 00:52.221 --> 00:53.999 Midnight Hammer to the decisive 00:53.999 --> 00:56.054 military victory we just achieved in 00:56.054 --> 00:58.939 Operation Epic Fury . No other 00:58.939 --> 01:01.290 president has shown the courage and 01:01.290 --> 01:03.939 resolve of this commander in chief . 01:04.779 --> 01:07.309 President Trump forged this moment . 01:07.459 --> 01:10.250 Iran begged for this ceasefire , and we 01:10.250 --> 01:13.110 all know it . As the president truth 01:13.110 --> 01:15.610 this morning , a big day for world 01:15.610 --> 01:18.459 peace . Iran wants it to happen . 01:18.919 --> 01:22.849 They've had enough . Operation 01:22.849 --> 01:25.510 Epic Fury was a historic and 01:25.510 --> 01:28.129 overwhelming victory on the battlefield . 01:29.000 --> 01:32.440 A capital V military victory . 01:33.449 --> 01:36.410 By any measure , epic fury decimated 01:36.410 --> 01:38.690 Iran's military and rendered it combat 01:38.690 --> 01:42.459 ineffective for years to come . You see , 01:42.500 --> 01:46.209 in less than 40 days . One of our 01:46.209 --> 01:48.376 combatant commands , Central Command , 01:48.376 --> 01:51.050 CENTCOM , using less than 10% of 01:51.050 --> 01:52.772 America's total combat power . 01:53.589 --> 01:55.709 Dismantled one of the world's largest 01:55.709 --> 01:57.910 militaries , the world's leading state 01:57.910 --> 02:00.470 sponsor of terrorism proved utterly 02:00.470 --> 02:03.989 incapable . Of defending itself , its 02:03.989 --> 02:07.480 people , or it's territory . We untied 02:07.480 --> 02:09.759 just a fraction of our strength , and 02:09.759 --> 02:12.720 Iran suffered a devastating military 02:12.720 --> 02:15.970 defeat . Together with our Israeli 02:15.970 --> 02:18.570 partners , America's military achieved 02:18.570 --> 02:22.130 every single objective on plan , on 02:22.130 --> 02:25.289 schedule , exactly as laid out from day 02:25.289 --> 02:28.369 one . Iran's navy is at the bottom of 02:28.369 --> 02:30.425 the sea , whether it's the Soleimani 02:30.425 --> 02:32.520 class , their frigate class , their 02:32.520 --> 02:35.250 prized drone aircraft carriers , 02:35.649 --> 02:38.399 submarines , mine layers sunk . 02:39.470 --> 02:41.630 Iran's air force has been wiped out . 02:42.660 --> 02:45.110 Iran no longer has an air defense , any 02:45.110 --> 02:47.110 sort of a comprehensive air defense 02:47.110 --> 02:50.350 system . We own their skies . Their 02:50.350 --> 02:52.309 missile program is functionally 02:52.309 --> 02:54.589 destroyed , launchers , production 02:54.589 --> 02:56.710 facilities , and existing stockpiles 02:56.710 --> 03:00.399 depleted and decimated . And almost 03:00.399 --> 03:02.343 completely ineffective . Iran shot 03:02.343 --> 03:04.880 hundreds and hundreds of missiles and 03:04.880 --> 03:06.991 one-way attack drones at our aircraft 03:06.991 --> 03:09.199 carrier . They were obsessed with it . 03:10.110 --> 03:12.470 And they never got even close . Every 03:12.470 --> 03:14.949 single one of those shots easily shot 03:14.949 --> 03:18.029 down miles and miles away from the Abe 03:18.029 --> 03:21.199 Lincoln . They were blowing ammo . Into 03:21.199 --> 03:25.190 fantasy land . Contrast that with 03:25.190 --> 03:27.669 most significantly , in last night's 03:27.669 --> 03:31.070 wave of more than 800 strikes , we 03:31.070 --> 03:33.869 finished completely destroying Iran's 03:33.869 --> 03:37.210 defense industrial base . A core pillar 03:37.350 --> 03:40.169 of our mission objective . What little 03:40.169 --> 03:42.391 they have left buried in bunkers is all 03:42.391 --> 03:46.070 they will have . They can still shoot , 03:46.149 --> 03:47.982 we know that . Their command and 03:47.982 --> 03:50.038 control is so decimated , they can't 03:50.038 --> 03:52.093 really talk and coordinate . So they 03:52.093 --> 03:54.149 still may shoot here and there , but 03:54.149 --> 03:56.889 that would be very , very unwise . But 03:56.889 --> 03:59.110 they can no longer build missiles , 03:59.490 --> 04:01.610 build rockets , build launchers , or 04:01.610 --> 04:04.130 build UAVs . Their factories have been 04:04.130 --> 04:07.550 razed to the ground . Set back 04:07.929 --> 04:10.880 in historic fashion . You see , had 04:10.880 --> 04:13.639 Iran refused our terms , the next 04:13.639 --> 04:15.639 targets would have been their power 04:15.639 --> 04:18.820 plants . Their bridges and oil and 04:18.820 --> 04:20.820 energy infrastructure targets they 04:20.820 --> 04:23.309 could not defend . And could not 04:23.309 --> 04:25.420 realistically rebuild . It would have 04:25.420 --> 04:27.769 taken them decades , and we were locked 04:27.869 --> 04:30.070 and loaded . They couldn't defend 04:30.070 --> 04:32.619 against it . President Trump had the 04:32.619 --> 04:35.279 power to cripple Iran's entire economy 04:35.279 --> 04:38.859 in minutes . But he chose , he , he 04:38.859 --> 04:42.109 chose mercy . He spared those targets 04:42.109 --> 04:44.109 because Iran accepted the ceasefire 04:44.109 --> 04:47.989 under overwhelming pressure . The new 04:47.989 --> 04:50.100 Iranian regime understood that a deal 04:50.100 --> 04:52.299 was far better than the fate that 04:52.299 --> 04:55.809 awaited them . This new regime just 04:55.910 --> 04:57.966 happened to look at what happened to 04:57.966 --> 04:59.688 their predecessors . Their top 04:59.688 --> 05:01.910 leadership . Was systematically 05:01.910 --> 05:04.899 eliminated . The previous Iranian 05:04.899 --> 05:08.480 Supreme Leader . Dead The Supreme 05:08.480 --> 05:10.600 National Security Council secretary 05:11.079 --> 05:13.609 dead . The Supreme Leader office 05:13.609 --> 05:16.769 advisor , dead . The supreme Leader 05:16.769 --> 05:20.630 military office chief dead . The 05:20.630 --> 05:23.160 defense minister No longer with us . 05:23.920 --> 05:27.429 The IRGC commander , dead . The Armed 05:27.429 --> 05:29.630 Forces General Staff commander dead . 05:30.589 --> 05:34.130 The intelligence minister . Dead . The 05:34.130 --> 05:37.369 IRGC Navy commander . No longer here , 05:37.790 --> 05:40.480 the IRGC intel chief . Dead . 05:41.760 --> 05:43.871 I skipped over a bunch and I could go 05:43.871 --> 05:47.420 on and on and on to include the new 05:47.679 --> 05:49.735 so-called new supreme Leader wounded 05:49.735 --> 05:53.269 and disfigured . This new regime was 05:53.269 --> 05:55.950 out of options and out of time , so 05:55.950 --> 05:58.420 they cut a deal . They know this 05:58.420 --> 06:00.476 agreement means that they will never 06:00.476 --> 06:03.970 ever possess a nuclear weapon . Under 06:03.970 --> 06:06.600 the terms , any nuclear material they 06:06.600 --> 06:10.450 should have will be removed . Any 06:10.450 --> 06:12.617 material , excuse me , they should not 06:12.617 --> 06:14.783 have will be removed . Right now their 06:14.783 --> 06:17.690 dust is deeply buried and watched 24/7 06:17.690 --> 06:19.912 overhead . The president has been clear 06:19.912 --> 06:21.912 from the beginning there will be no 06:21.912 --> 06:25.329 Iranian nuclear weapons , period . Full 06:25.329 --> 06:27.730 stop . Other presidents said it . 06:28.010 --> 06:31.760 President Trump did it . Operation 06:31.760 --> 06:34.880 Epic Fury , less than 6 weeks , clear 06:34.880 --> 06:36.820 mission , decisive action , 06:37.119 --> 06:39.839 overwhelming firepower , America first , 06:40.079 --> 06:42.399 a historic battlefield victory . 06:43.910 --> 06:45.910 For decades , Iran killed Americans 06:45.910 --> 06:48.910 with roadside bombs in Iraq , using 06:48.910 --> 06:51.510 cowardly proxies to do their work while 06:51.510 --> 06:54.619 they hid safely in Tehran . They struck 06:54.619 --> 06:56.452 our embassies with car bombs and 06:56.452 --> 06:58.341 attacked from the shadows , never 06:58.341 --> 07:01.390 daring to face us toe to toe . They 07:01.390 --> 07:03.501 thought they could bleed America with 07:03.501 --> 07:06.160 impunity . Well , they just learned the 07:06.160 --> 07:08.399 hard way , what happens when you try to 07:08.399 --> 07:11.609 fight us directly . And even when they 07:11.609 --> 07:15.130 got lucky , one time in 40 days , and 07:15.130 --> 07:16.908 downed two of our pilots , they 07:16.908 --> 07:19.730 couldn't hold them . In a daring 14 07:19.730 --> 07:22.630 hour rescue operation , 7 hours in 07:22.630 --> 07:25.829 daylight and 7 hours of night , both 07:25.829 --> 07:28.940 pilots were recovered safely . Not once . 07:29.959 --> 07:33.589 But twice . A daylight thunder 07:33.589 --> 07:36.290 run right up the middle of their 07:36.290 --> 07:39.470 country , boots on the ground . 07:40.209 --> 07:43.730 A midnight raid right up the middle of 07:43.730 --> 07:47.369 their country , boots on the ground . 07:48.529 --> 07:51.660 Zero American casualties . The Iranians 07:51.660 --> 07:54.619 humiliated and demoralized . We control 07:54.619 --> 07:57.049 their fate , not the other way around . 07:57.380 --> 07:59.959 That's why they came to the table . 08:01.589 --> 08:03.756 Iran's defeat is America's retribution 08:03.756 --> 08:05.760 for every American loss to Iranian 08:05.760 --> 08:08.459 terror . Especially those brave troops 08:08.459 --> 08:10.619 killed by Iranian-made roadside bombs 08:10.619 --> 08:13.160 in Iraq that my generation knows so 08:13.339 --> 08:15.630 well . And for the suffering their 08:15.630 --> 08:17.852 regime has inflicted around the world . 08:18.390 --> 08:20.910 Now we have a chance at real peace and 08:20.910 --> 08:23.820 a real deal . The War Department for 08:23.820 --> 08:27.730 now , for now , has done its part . We 08:27.730 --> 08:29.980 stand ready in the background to ensure 08:29.980 --> 08:32.289 Iran upholds every reasonable term . 08:33.299 --> 08:36.098 And as everyone knows , nobody makes a 08:36.098 --> 08:38.249 better deal than President Trump . 08:39.979 --> 08:42.419 To the warriors of epic fury , I say 08:42.419 --> 08:45.028 well done . You're the backbone of our 08:45.028 --> 08:47.139 country , your skill , your bravery , 08:47.139 --> 08:49.084 and sheer guts and grit showed the 08:49.084 --> 08:51.948 world what America is all about . I'm 08:51.948 --> 08:54.250 proud of you . We're proud of you . 08:54.869 --> 08:57.070 President is proud of you . Job well 08:57.070 --> 09:01.000 done . But stay vigilant And stay ready . 09:02.479 --> 09:04.570 To the families of our fallen , your 09:04.570 --> 09:06.737 sacrifice was in service of a historic 09:06.737 --> 09:08.849 cause , and we will always remember 09:08.849 --> 09:12.469 your heroes , our heroes . We will 09:12.479 --> 09:14.479 continue to honor them . And to our 09:14.479 --> 09:16.646 Israeli allies , thank you for being a 09:16.646 --> 09:19.799 brave , capable and willing ally on 09:19.799 --> 09:21.743 this battlefield . The rest of the 09:21.743 --> 09:23.743 world and the rest of our so-called 09:23.743 --> 09:25.910 allies saw what real capabilities look 09:25.910 --> 09:28.159 like . They should take some notes . 09:29.739 --> 09:32.320 Our troops , our American warriors 09:32.590 --> 09:35.739 deserve the credit for this day . But 09:35.739 --> 09:38.460 God deserves all the glory . Tens of 09:38.460 --> 09:40.739 thousands of sorties , refuelings and 09:40.739 --> 09:43.380 strikes carried out under the 09:43.380 --> 09:45.380 protection of divine Providence , a 09:45.380 --> 09:48.500 massive effort with miraculous 09:48.500 --> 09:51.950 protection . Dude , 44 bravo 09:52.520 --> 09:56.059 spoke for all of us . God is 09:56.479 --> 09:59.719 good . The chairman will now provide an 09:59.719 --> 10:02.320 even deeper military detail on the 10:02.320 --> 10:04.653 historic success of Operation Epic Fury . 10:04.679 --> 10:06.512 Mr . Chairman , thank you , Mr . 10:06.512 --> 10:08.623 Secretary , and good morning , ladies 10:08.623 --> 10:10.846 and gentlemen . Thanks for being here . 10:10.846 --> 10:12.623 I want to start this morning by 10:12.623 --> 10:14.846 honoring the 13 members of our American 10:14.846 --> 10:16.957 Joint Force who were killed in action 10:16.957 --> 10:19.123 thus far during this operation . Their 10:19.123 --> 10:21.346 sacrifice and that of their families is 10:21.346 --> 10:23.346 deeply important to us , and we are 10:23.346 --> 10:25.512 grateful , we are grateful for each of 10:25.512 --> 10:27.679 them and we'll continue to mourn their 10:27.679 --> 10:29.735 loss . Their names and their bravery 10:30.070 --> 10:32.630 will never be forgotten . On February 10:32.630 --> 10:34.574 28th , the president of the United 10:34.574 --> 10:36.463 States ordered the Joint Force to 10:36.463 --> 10:38.519 execute Operation Epic Fury with the 10:38.519 --> 10:40.750 direct , uh , direction to accomplish 10:40.750 --> 10:42.806 three distinct military objectives . 10:42.960 --> 10:45.016 Destroy Iran's ballistic missile and 10:45.016 --> 10:47.760 drone drone capabilities , destroy the 10:47.760 --> 10:50.039 Iranian navy , and destroy their 10:50.039 --> 10:52.239 defense industrial base to ensure that 10:52.239 --> 10:55.200 Iran cannot reconstitute the ability to 10:55.200 --> 10:57.311 project power outside their borders . 10:57.640 --> 10:59.640 Over the course of 38 days of major 10:59.640 --> 11:01.799 combat operation , the joint force 11:01.799 --> 11:03.799 achieved the military objectives as 11:03.799 --> 11:06.260 defined by the president . We welcome 11:06.559 --> 11:08.599 the ongoing ceasefire and as the 11:08.599 --> 11:10.700 Secretary said , we hope that Iran 11:10.919 --> 11:13.159 chooses a lasting peace , but as 11:13.159 --> 11:15.239 Secretary Hegseth said , let us be 11:15.239 --> 11:17.640 clear , a ceasefire is a pause and the 11:17.640 --> 11:20.559 joint force remains ready if ordered or 11:20.559 --> 11:23.460 called upon to resume combat operations 11:23.679 --> 11:26.520 with the same speed and precision as 11:26.520 --> 11:28.880 we've demonstrated over the last 38 11:28.880 --> 11:31.102 days , and we hope that that is not the 11:31.102 --> 11:33.539 case . I want to congratulate and thank 11:33.539 --> 11:35.500 the leadership today at US Central 11:35.500 --> 11:37.500 Command , including the commander , 11:37.500 --> 11:39.460 Admiral Brad Cooper , the deputy 11:39.460 --> 11:41.516 commander , Lieutenant General Kevin 11:41.516 --> 11:43.571 Leahy , the senior enlisted leader , 11:43.571 --> 11:46.750 Fleet Master Chief Compton . And every 11:46.750 --> 11:48.639 one of the component commanders , 11:48.690 --> 11:50.780 senior enlisted leaders , and 11:50.780 --> 11:53.590 especially the staff down at US Central 11:53.590 --> 11:55.820 Command who does not get called out for 11:55.820 --> 11:58.659 any of the credit but grinds 24/7 to 11:58.659 --> 12:00.881 help offer the options that we bring to 12:00.881 --> 12:02.881 the Secretary and the President . I 12:02.881 --> 12:04.937 also want to highlight the forces in 12:04.937 --> 12:06.881 the United States European Command 12:06.881 --> 12:09.103 under the command of Alexis Grikowicz , 12:09.103 --> 12:11.048 who protected the Western flank in 12:11.048 --> 12:13.280 support of CENTCOM . And I wanna thank 12:13.280 --> 12:16.010 our partners across the intelligence 12:16.010 --> 12:18.599 community . Our ability to see and 12:18.599 --> 12:20.821 understand what an adversary is doing , 12:21.130 --> 12:24.210 uh , help us to be as decisive as we 12:24.210 --> 12:26.570 must be on the battlefield , and that 12:26.570 --> 12:30.489 includes DIA , NSA , NGA , the 12:30.489 --> 12:32.630 CIA , and the National Reconnaissance 12:32.630 --> 12:35.320 Office and others . I want to thank the 12:35.320 --> 12:37.542 other combat commands who have thus far 12:37.542 --> 12:40.070 contributed along the way to US Central 12:40.070 --> 12:42.489 Command . This includes Transom , 12:42.919 --> 12:46.650 StratCom , SpaceCom , SOCOM , and 12:46.650 --> 12:50.530 CyberCom , all of whom poured all in in 12:50.530 --> 12:53.239 support of CENTCOM's efforts . And I 12:53.239 --> 12:55.406 want to thank , as the secretary did , 12:55.406 --> 12:57.869 our Gulf partners who fought alongside 12:57.869 --> 12:59.925 each and every one of us every day , 13:00.119 --> 13:02.409 from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , the 13:02.409 --> 13:05.000 UAE , Bahrain , Qatar , Kuwait , and 13:05.000 --> 13:07.559 Jordan , all who joined us together to 13:07.559 --> 13:10.080 defend and protect our people and our 13:10.080 --> 13:13.369 assets and who , if required , stand 13:13.369 --> 13:15.909 ready to do so again . And I want to 13:15.909 --> 13:18.679 thank my team at the Joint Staff who 13:18.679 --> 13:21.719 work literally around the clock in 13:21.719 --> 13:24.239 order to help me offer the options that 13:24.239 --> 13:27.000 I must with the associated risks to the 13:27.000 --> 13:29.440 secretary and to the president . They 13:29.440 --> 13:31.599 are the hardest working people that I 13:31.599 --> 13:33.599 know , and I am deeply grateful for 13:33.599 --> 13:37.059 their service . Most importantly today , 13:37.250 --> 13:39.570 I want to thank America's members of 13:39.570 --> 13:41.650 the Joint Force who've poured 13:41.650 --> 13:43.872 everything that they can into Operation 13:43.872 --> 13:47.010 Epic Fury and their families who've 13:47.010 --> 13:50.650 worked 24 hours a day for 38 days . The 13:50.650 --> 13:53.250 secretary and I could not be more proud 13:53.250 --> 13:55.419 of each and every one of you . And we 13:55.419 --> 13:58.299 deeply appreciate the support of the 13:58.299 --> 14:01.250 American people who we know always have 14:01.250 --> 14:04.020 us in our thoughts and prayers , and we 14:04.020 --> 14:06.580 can feel this literally every single 14:06.580 --> 14:09.280 day . As the Secretary said , the 14:09.280 --> 14:11.113 United States has devastated the 14:11.113 --> 14:13.640 regime's ability to harm Americans and 14:13.640 --> 14:16.039 our interests for years to come . Since 14:16.039 --> 14:17.880 the beginning of major combat 14:17.880 --> 14:19.936 operations , the United States Joint 14:19.936 --> 14:22.213 Forces struck more than 13,000 targets , 14:22.640 --> 14:24.799 including in that 13,000 , more than 14:24.799 --> 14:27.799 4000 dynamic targets that popped up on 14:27.799 --> 14:30.159 the battlefield and were immediately 14:30.159 --> 14:32.159 addressed thanks to the exceptional 14:32.159 --> 14:33.881 command and control system and 14:33.881 --> 14:36.119 intelligence , acumen and agility of 14:36.119 --> 14:38.909 our joint force . CENTCOM forces 14:38.909 --> 14:41.299 destroyed approximately 80% of Iran's 14:41.299 --> 14:43.309 air defense systems , striking more 14:43.309 --> 14:45.989 than 1500 air defense targets , more 14:45.989 --> 14:48.630 than 450 ballistic missile storage 14:48.630 --> 14:52.190 facilities , 800 one-way attack drones 14:52.190 --> 14:54.150 storage facilities . All of these 14:54.150 --> 14:56.520 systems are gone . We've devastated 14:56.520 --> 14:58.242 Iran's command and control and 14:58.242 --> 15:00.640 logistical networks , destroying more 15:00.640 --> 15:03.320 than 2000 command and control nodes and 15:03.320 --> 15:06.119 degrading their ability to target US 15:06.400 --> 15:09.200 and friendly forces . It is , and we 15:09.200 --> 15:11.400 know this , incredibly frustrating 15:11.400 --> 15:14.320 right now to be a lower level Iranian 15:14.320 --> 15:16.487 commander trying to fight your fight . 15:16.989 --> 15:18.989 As the Secretary said , the Iranian 15:18.989 --> 15:21.100 navy now lies mostly at the bottom of 15:21.100 --> 15:23.211 the Arabian Gulf , and we assess that 15:23.211 --> 15:25.109 we've sunk more than 90% of their 15:25.109 --> 15:27.190 regular fleet , including all of the 15:27.190 --> 15:29.079 major surface combatants , as the 15:29.079 --> 15:31.909 Secretary said . 150 ships are at the 15:31.909 --> 15:34.190 bottom of the ocean and half of the 15:34.190 --> 15:37.989 IRGC Navy's small attack boats . Joint 15:37.989 --> 15:40.479 fires projected from the land , sea , 15:40.489 --> 15:43.919 and air executed more than 700 strikes 15:44.280 --> 15:46.502 against naval mine targets , and we had 15:46.502 --> 15:48.558 assessed that we destroyed more than 15:48.558 --> 15:52.130 95% of their naval mines . And perhaps 15:52.130 --> 15:54.570 most importantly , we've destroyed 15:54.570 --> 15:57.330 Iran's defense industrial base , their 15:57.330 --> 15:59.450 ability to reconstitute those 15:59.450 --> 16:02.500 capabilities for years to come . We 16:02.500 --> 16:04.333 attacked along with our partners 16:04.333 --> 16:06.359 approximately 90% of their weapons 16:06.359 --> 16:09.640 factories . Every factory that produced 16:09.640 --> 16:11.640 Shaheed one-way attack drones was 16:11.640 --> 16:14.320 struck . Every factory that produces 16:14.320 --> 16:16.542 the guidance systems that go into those 16:16.542 --> 16:18.599 drones was struck . Their missile 16:18.599 --> 16:20.669 defense industrial bases shattered , 16:20.679 --> 16:22.760 with more than 80% of their missile 16:22.760 --> 16:25.039 facilities gone , as well as their 16:25.039 --> 16:27.359 solid rocket motor , uh , production 16:27.359 --> 16:30.000 capability . It will take years for 16:30.000 --> 16:32.309 Iran to rebuild any major surface 16:32.309 --> 16:35.239 combatants , as more than 20 naval 16:35.239 --> 16:37.440 production and fabrication facilities 16:37.440 --> 16:39.840 have been damaged or destroyed , and 16:39.840 --> 16:42.840 nearly 80% of Iran's nuclear industrial 16:42.840 --> 16:45.599 base was hit , further degrading their 16:45.599 --> 16:48.359 attempts to attain a nuclear weapon . 16:49.369 --> 16:51.729 Throughout Operation Epic Fury , our 16:51.729 --> 16:54.169 joint force struck at the heart of 16:54.169 --> 16:57.150 Iran's ability to project power and 16:57.150 --> 16:59.094 threaten the United States and the 16:59.094 --> 17:01.690 region , and in order to do this , it 17:01.690 --> 17:04.250 required the service and sacrifice of 17:04.250 --> 17:07.109 more than 50,000 American warfighters 17:07.369 --> 17:10.569 deployed across CENTCOM , UCO , and 17:10.569 --> 17:13.348 stateside . The joint force flew more 17:13.348 --> 17:16.828 than 10,000 missions , including 62 17:16.828 --> 17:19.428 bomber missions , 18 of which flew 17:19.428 --> 17:22.428 round trip from the United States to 17:22.428 --> 17:25.308 deliver military bombs on military 17:25.308 --> 17:27.828 targets . Each of these missions was 17:27.828 --> 17:31.269 more than 30 hours in duration , and we 17:31.269 --> 17:34.548 did that 18 times . No other military 17:34.548 --> 17:36.788 in the world can do that , and it's a 17:36.788 --> 17:39.308 testament to the logistical force that 17:39.308 --> 17:42.650 quietly serves behind them . I cannot 17:42.650 --> 17:45.800 thank Transcom and the Air Force tanker 17:45.800 --> 17:48.890 and mobility force more . Combined with 17:48.890 --> 17:51.010 Army and Navy joint fires , we stuck 17:51.010 --> 17:54.010 more than 13,000 targets , and along 17:54.010 --> 17:56.250 with our Gulf partners , we've thus far 17:56.250 --> 17:59.530 intercepted 1700 ballistic missiles and 17:59.530 --> 18:01.530 one-way attack drones defending our 18:01.530 --> 18:03.930 forces and our partners in the civilian 18:03.930 --> 18:07.089 population , and we remain ready to do 18:07.089 --> 18:10.829 so should the need arise . Along the 18:10.829 --> 18:13.869 way we consume more than 6 million 18:13.869 --> 18:16.469 meals and by my estimate more than 18:16.469 --> 18:20.310 950,000 gallons of coffee , 2 18:20.310 --> 18:22.469 million energy drinks , and a lot of 18:22.469 --> 18:24.580 nicotine , but I'm not saying that we 18:24.580 --> 18:28.020 have a problem . Um , I've laid out the 18:28.020 --> 18:31.479 statistics , but it does not truly 18:31.479 --> 18:34.000 capture the nature of combat . This is 18:34.000 --> 18:37.229 gritty and unforgiving business . It's 18:37.229 --> 18:39.760 chaotic . It's hot . It's dark . It's 18:39.760 --> 18:41.839 unpredictable , and there's always 18:41.839 --> 18:45.359 unknowns , and our people proudly 18:45.359 --> 18:47.800 walked into those unknowns and continue 18:47.800 --> 18:49.967 forward and through it all , the joint 18:49.967 --> 18:52.280 force has demonstrated the unwavering 18:52.280 --> 18:55.199 resolve that the nation demands of us . 18:55.959 --> 18:58.126 We are a mission focused force and our 18:58.126 --> 19:00.790 objectives always is to create the 19:00.790 --> 19:03.520 conditions for peace and today we have , 19:03.760 --> 19:06.239 while be ready should that peace break , 19:06.400 --> 19:09.020 which we hope it is not , and we remain 19:09.020 --> 19:11.719 ready . Before I turn it back to the 19:11.719 --> 19:13.800 secretary , I also want to quickly 19:13.800 --> 19:16.280 revisit the rescue of the Air Force 19:16.280 --> 19:18.630 fighter crew over the weekend . To give 19:18.630 --> 19:20.852 you an update , we've had the Secretary 19:20.852 --> 19:22.908 and I have had the profound honor of 19:22.908 --> 19:24.852 speaking directly with many of the 19:24.852 --> 19:27.109 warfighters on that mission , from the 19:27.109 --> 19:30.510 downed crew that that were picked up to 19:30.510 --> 19:32.729 those forces that went and got them . 19:33.229 --> 19:36.339 Hearing these stories firsthand has 19:36.339 --> 19:39.390 only deepened our appreciation for 19:39.390 --> 19:42.890 their tenacity , creativity , courage , 19:43.229 --> 19:45.800 and grit of the American Joint Force . 19:46.729 --> 19:50.719 This is a story that gets to the very 19:50.719 --> 19:54.000 heart and soul of who we are as a joint 19:54.000 --> 19:56.920 force , who we are as Americans , 19:57.359 --> 20:00.760 selfless sacrifice in service of 20:00.760 --> 20:04.349 others from the backseater dude 20:04.349 --> 20:07.880 44 Bravo , whose pure and 20:07.880 --> 20:11.819 unadulterated joy at seeing 20:11.920 --> 20:14.599 those helicopters come into the valley . 20:15.060 --> 20:18.670 To get his front seater . In daylight , 20:19.329 --> 20:21.410 because he knew the front seater did 20:21.410 --> 20:25.209 not have a jacket and was so filled 20:25.209 --> 20:28.170 with heart leaping joy at his front 20:28.170 --> 20:30.670 seater getting picked up . To the 20:30.670 --> 20:32.781 nighttime folks that went in and then 20:32.781 --> 20:36.109 got him , to the tanker forces that did 20:36.109 --> 20:38.349 the things that they had to do to give 20:38.349 --> 20:40.949 their own gas away to the support 20:40.949 --> 20:43.709 packages , to those that went into the 20:43.709 --> 20:46.869 desert landing site not once , not 20:46.869 --> 20:50.069 twice , but 3 times as we fought 20:50.069 --> 20:52.910 through multiple contingencies , this 20:52.910 --> 20:56.670 was and is a joint force that 20:56.670 --> 21:00.229 has the guts to try . That does not 21:00.229 --> 21:04.150 quit and who each and every day does 21:04.150 --> 21:06.729 the things that we must to dare to win . 21:07.239 --> 21:09.349 No lives were lost . We succeeded 21:09.349 --> 21:11.405 because the joint force is always at 21:11.405 --> 21:13.405 the ready . They trust each other . 21:13.405 --> 21:15.405 They trust their leaders , and they 21:15.405 --> 21:17.182 trust their training , and they 21:17.182 --> 21:19.349 remember first , foremost , and always 21:19.400 --> 21:21.829 that we do these things so that others 21:21.829 --> 21:23.773 may live , and we will never leave 21:24.189 --> 21:26.430 anyone behind . The success of 21:26.430 --> 21:28.900 Operation Fury thus far and we hope it 21:28.900 --> 21:31.510 remains culminates with this incredible 21:31.510 --> 21:33.819 rescue over the weekend , a direct 21:33.819 --> 21:35.989 example of the professionalism and 21:35.989 --> 21:38.469 courage of the United States military 21:38.469 --> 21:41.020 and our joint force . It's the service 21:41.020 --> 21:42.853 members on the front lines , our 21:42.853 --> 21:44.890 partners in the region . Uh , our 21:44.890 --> 21:46.946 teammates , uh , in the intelligence 21:46.946 --> 21:49.168 community , our civilian leaders in the 21:49.168 --> 21:51.449 OSW side of the house , the American 21:51.449 --> 21:53.671 workers who build the tools and weapons 21:53.671 --> 21:55.782 that we use , and the American people 21:55.782 --> 21:57.838 who back us up that help us to go do 21:57.838 --> 22:00.410 these things , we stand here , I stand 22:00.410 --> 22:02.569 here humbled today but frankly not 22:02.569 --> 22:04.810 surprised by what the Joint Force has 22:04.810 --> 22:08.140 been able to do . Their performance is 22:08.140 --> 22:10.349 fueled by a deep commitment to each 22:10.349 --> 22:12.550 other , their mission , and to our 22:12.550 --> 22:15.650 country . It is an incredible , deep 22:15.869 --> 22:18.199 honor for me to be a part of this joint 22:18.199 --> 22:20.366 force , and I'm humbled by the service 22:20.366 --> 22:22.829 and sacrifice each and every day that I 22:22.829 --> 22:25.979 am lucky enough to see . And finally , 22:26.260 --> 22:29.109 as I always do , I ask that we never 22:29.500 --> 22:31.849 forget our fallen and their families , 22:32.180 --> 22:34.380 especially those 13 fallen from 22:34.380 --> 22:37.380 Operation Epic Fury . May we always be 22:37.380 --> 22:39.459 worthy of their sacrifice and honor 22:39.459 --> 22:41.515 their legacy . And with that , sir , 22:41.515 --> 22:43.626 I'll turn it back over to you . Thank 22:43.626 --> 22:45.792 you , Mr . Chairman . We'll take a few 22:45.792 --> 22:47.959 questions . Uh , Alexandra Ingersoll , 22:47.959 --> 22:50.181 One America News , first of all , thank 22:50.181 --> 22:53.650 you to our troops . What role is our 22:53.650 --> 22:55.969 military playing in escorting vessels 22:55.969 --> 22:58.025 through the Strait of Hormuz at this 22:58.025 --> 23:00.569 point ? And the president said on True 23:00.569 --> 23:02.969 Social that the US will be hanging 23:02.969 --> 23:04.969 around to make sure everything goes 23:04.969 --> 23:07.191 well . Obviously , Mr . Secretary , you 23:07.191 --> 23:09.413 just mentioned , you know , we know the 23:09.413 --> 23:11.525 scars from hanging around in Iraq for 23:11.525 --> 23:14.569 decades , but what does that entail in 23:14.569 --> 23:16.736 terms of our military presence at this 23:16.736 --> 23:18.680 juncture ? Yeah , we'll be hanging 23:18.680 --> 23:20.680 around . We're not going anywhere . 23:20.680 --> 23:22.569 We're gonna make sure , uh , Iran 23:22.569 --> 23:24.680 complies with this ceasefire and then 23:24.680 --> 23:26.902 ultimately comes to the table and makes 23:26.902 --> 23:29.236 a deal . Uh , so we'll , we'll stay put , 23:29.236 --> 23:31.125 stay ready , stay vigilant as the 23:31.125 --> 23:33.347 chairman laid out . Uh , our troops are 23:33.347 --> 23:35.513 prepared to defend , prepared to go on 23:35.513 --> 23:35.109 offense , prepared to restart at a 23:35.109 --> 23:37.165 moment's notice with whatever target 23:37.165 --> 23:39.390 package would be needed in order to 23:39.390 --> 23:41.612 comply , ensure that Iran complies . As 23:41.612 --> 23:43.910 far as the strait , uh , you saw the 23:43.910 --> 23:45.910 initial agreement that was struck , 23:45.910 --> 23:48.132 which is , uh , Iran's letting ships go 23:48.132 --> 23:50.299 through . So they'll be that that will 23:50.299 --> 23:52.521 be happening . They will be sailing and 23:52.521 --> 23:54.577 ultimately as , as the president , I 23:54.577 --> 23:56.854 mean we've done an incredible job , uh , 23:56.854 --> 23:59.132 militarily inside the Strait of Hormuz . 23:59.132 --> 24:01.021 What Admiral Cooper , I failed to 24:01.021 --> 24:03.077 mention Admiral Cooper's name , uh , 24:03.077 --> 24:05.188 he's done a phenomenal job along with 24:05.188 --> 24:07.188 everybody at AFcent and ABScent and 24:07.188 --> 24:09.410 Rcent and all , all the components down 24:09.410 --> 24:11.577 there laying the groundwork for , uh , 24:11.577 --> 24:11.390 Iran . Iran doesn't have the same 24:11.390 --> 24:13.501 ability to defend it the way they did 24:13.501 --> 24:15.557 before . And so as the president has 24:15.557 --> 24:17.723 pointed out to the rest of the world , 24:17.723 --> 24:17.349 uh , we , we barely get any of our 24:17.349 --> 24:19.516 energy out of the street . Just a tiny 24:19.516 --> 24:21.682 fraction , uh , it's time for the rest 24:21.682 --> 24:23.905 of the world to step up and ensure that 24:23.905 --> 24:26.016 that stays open after President Trump 24:26.016 --> 24:28.182 and the War Department brought Iran to 24:28.182 --> 24:30.182 the place where they're voluntarily 24:30.182 --> 24:31.905 opening it right now as it was 24:31.905 --> 24:33.960 announced last night . Yes , Jerry . 24:33.960 --> 24:36.238 Thank you , Mr . Secretary , and thank , 24:36.238 --> 24:38.405 thank you both , uh , for the update . 24:38.405 --> 24:40.405 Uh , President Trump posted on True 24:40.405 --> 24:43.050 Social this morning that , uh , There 24:43.050 --> 24:44.939 has been a very productive regime 24:44.939 --> 24:47.161 change in Iran , and that there will be 24:47.161 --> 24:49.650 no enrichment of uranium , and the US 24:49.650 --> 24:51.969 will work with Iran to dig up and 24:51.969 --> 24:54.619 remove the deeply buried nuclear dust . 24:54.810 --> 24:57.609 So , I , I just have 22 questions here . 24:57.729 --> 25:00.189 So . Both you , Mr . Secretary , and 25:00.189 --> 25:02.245 the President have referred to a new 25:02.245 --> 25:05.729 regime in Iran . So is this Not the 25:05.729 --> 25:08.500 regime that was at war with us for 47 25:08.500 --> 25:11.439 years . And how do we , what do we 25:11.439 --> 25:13.661 think of when we're saying that this is 25:13.661 --> 25:15.883 a new regime ? What are we thinking and 25:15.883 --> 25:18.050 what are we saying there ? And then my 25:18.050 --> 25:20.106 second question is , with any future 25:20.106 --> 25:23.300 deal with Iran , is their handing over 25:23.300 --> 25:25.979 of all of their enriched uranium and 25:25.979 --> 25:27.979 they're promising not to enrich any 25:27.979 --> 25:30.380 future uranium a non-negotiable for the 25:30.380 --> 25:32.102 US ? Well , it's always been . 25:32.180 --> 25:34.180 Non-negotiable that they won't have 25:34.180 --> 25:36.291 nuclear capabilities and so right now 25:36.291 --> 25:38.458 it's buried and we're watching it . We 25:38.458 --> 25:40.624 know exactly what they have , uh , and 25:40.624 --> 25:42.624 they know that and they will either 25:42.624 --> 25:44.847 give it to us , which the president has 25:44.847 --> 25:44.500 laid out , we'll , they'll give it to 25:44.500 --> 25:46.611 us voluntarily . We'll get it , we'll 25:46.611 --> 25:48.722 take it , we'll take it out . Uh , or 25:48.722 --> 25:50.500 if we have to do something else 25:50.500 --> 25:50.060 ourselves like we did in Midnight 25:50.060 --> 25:52.282 Hammer or something like that , we , we 25:52.282 --> 25:54.393 reserve that opportunity . But what's 25:54.393 --> 25:56.338 clear , what the Iranian , the new 25:56.338 --> 25:58.449 Iranian regime knows is they'll never 25:58.449 --> 26:00.671 have a nuclear weapon or the capability 26:00.671 --> 26:02.727 to get a path to one . As far as the 26:02.727 --> 26:04.838 new regime , you , you heard the list 26:04.838 --> 26:06.727 that I read . It's a new group of 26:06.727 --> 26:08.393 people . Who've seen the full 26:08.393 --> 26:10.171 capability of the United States 26:10.171 --> 26:12.282 military and has a new calculus about 26:12.282 --> 26:14.616 what it means to negotiate with us , uh , 26:14.616 --> 26:16.449 hence why they came to the table 26:16.689 --> 26:18.911 wanting a ceasefire and the shooting to 26:18.911 --> 26:21.022 stop . So this new regime , which the 26:21.022 --> 26:23.078 regime has been changed , uh , has a 26:23.078 --> 26:25.329 different interaction with the US right 26:25.329 --> 26:27.607 here , Mr . Secretary , thank you . Uh , 26:27.607 --> 26:29.662 of course I was going in front right 26:29.662 --> 26:31.885 here . Thank you , Mr . Secretary , and 26:31.885 --> 26:31.729 General Kane . Uh , Mary Margaret with 26:31.729 --> 26:34.900 the Daily Wire , two questions . Iran 26:34.900 --> 26:37.067 has said that safe passage through the 26:37.067 --> 26:39.150 Strait of Hormuz will be possible in 26:39.150 --> 26:41.261 coordination with Iran's armed forces 26:41.261 --> 26:43.483 and technical limitations . What do you 26:43.483 --> 26:45.483 believe that means ? And then we've 26:45.483 --> 26:47.317 also heard reports that Iran has 26:47.317 --> 26:49.372 continued striking targets well into 26:49.372 --> 26:51.372 this morning . At what point are we 26:51.372 --> 26:53.483 beyond a grace period ? Are we giving 26:53.483 --> 26:55.317 them a grace period ? Is there a 26:55.317 --> 26:55.310 miscommunication there ? What's going 26:55.310 --> 26:57.859 on with that ? What we know is that 26:58.130 --> 27:00.241 Iran is gonna say a lot of things . A 27:00.241 --> 27:02.297 lot of people are gonna say a lot of 27:02.297 --> 27:04.408 things , claim a lot of things . What 27:04.408 --> 27:04.130 has been agreed to , what's been stated 27:04.130 --> 27:06.050 is the strait is open . Uh , our 27:06.050 --> 27:08.161 military is watching . I'm sure their 27:08.161 --> 27:10.161 military is watching , but commerce 27:10.161 --> 27:12.217 will flow , uh , and that's what you 27:12.217 --> 27:11.880 saw the markets react to is that 27:11.880 --> 27:14.839 reality , um , as far as shooting that , 27:14.849 --> 27:16.960 we , we were monitoring it last night 27:16.960 --> 27:19.127 in real time , of course we are . Iran 27:19.127 --> 27:22.500 would be wise to find a way to get the 27:22.500 --> 27:25.060 carrier pigeon to their troops out in 27:25.060 --> 27:27.739 remote locations to know not to shoot , 27:28.079 --> 27:29.968 not to shoot any longer , one-way 27:29.968 --> 27:32.380 attacks or missiles because this takes 27:32.380 --> 27:34.491 time sometimes for ceasefires to take 27:34.491 --> 27:36.436 hold . We're watching it . We're , 27:36.436 --> 27:38.602 we're prepared if necessary , but we , 27:38.602 --> 27:40.547 we , we , we hope and believe that 27:40.547 --> 27:42.269 it'll hold . Yes , thank you , 27:42.269 --> 27:44.436 Secretary Hudson . Sorry . Excuse me , 27:44.436 --> 27:46.547 why are you so rude ? Just wait . I'm 27:46.547 --> 27:48.324 calling on people . Thank you , 27:48.324 --> 27:49.936 Secretary . Yesterday in the 27:49.936 --> 27:51.602 President's Truth Social , he 27:51.602 --> 27:53.824 threatened to wipe out a civilization . 27:54.069 --> 27:56.910 That statement elicited a huge response 27:56.910 --> 28:00.000 in America . If Iran did not come to 28:00.000 --> 28:02.167 the table and make a deal yesterday by 28:02.167 --> 28:04.389 the deadline , was the president really 28:04.389 --> 28:06.444 prepared to wipe out Iran entirely ? 28:07.349 --> 28:09.238 Like I said , we had a target set 28:09.238 --> 28:11.349 locked and loaded of infrastructure , 28:11.589 --> 28:13.756 bridges , power plants . Remember this 28:13.756 --> 28:15.645 is a terror regime . The military 28:15.645 --> 28:17.645 regime used all of these things for 28:17.645 --> 28:19.700 dual use to fund their military , to 28:19.700 --> 28:21.811 fund their , their terror campaigns . 28:21.811 --> 28:21.339 We had a lot of legitimate targets . 28:21.630 --> 28:23.797 They knew exactly the scope of what we 28:23.797 --> 28:25.963 were capable of . We hit some military 28:25.963 --> 28:28.019 targets on KAG , which is a bit of a 28:28.019 --> 28:30.074 signal . Uh , they can't defend it . 28:30.074 --> 28:32.229 And so the Iran ultimately understood 28:32.229 --> 28:34.760 their ability , their future . To 28:34.760 --> 28:37.400 produce , to generate power , uh , to 28:37.400 --> 28:39.760 fuel their terrorist regime was in our 28:39.760 --> 28:42.099 hands , was in President Trump's hands . 28:42.400 --> 28:44.567 That's why they came to the table . He 28:44.567 --> 28:46.819 ultimately said , we can take it all 28:46.920 --> 28:48.930 from you . Your ability to export 28:48.930 --> 28:50.930 energy will be taken away , and the 28:50.930 --> 28:53.097 United States military has the ability 28:53.097 --> 28:55.263 to strike those things with impunity . 28:55.263 --> 28:57.263 That type of threat is what brought 28:57.263 --> 28:58.874 them to the place where they 28:58.874 --> 29:00.930 effectively say , hey , OK , we , we 29:00.930 --> 29:02.930 want to cut this deal . Yes , right 29:02.930 --> 29:05.097 here . Good morning , Mr . Secretary , 29:05.097 --> 29:07.263 Mr . Chairman David Z , Real America's 29:07.263 --> 29:09.541 Voice . Um , during the ceasefire , um , 29:09.541 --> 29:12.150 what do we do when we see , uh , Iran 29:12.270 --> 29:15.209 rearming , regrouping , repositioning 29:15.209 --> 29:17.729 weapons systems and air defenses , um , 29:17.849 --> 29:19.770 and also , have we confirmed the 29:19.770 --> 29:21.939 specific model type of air defense or 29:21.939 --> 29:24.890 MANPADS that took down our F-15 , and 29:24.890 --> 29:27.750 is it still a threat for our patrols ? 29:28.699 --> 29:30.532 Uh , we're , we're still working 29:30.532 --> 29:32.939 through the , the , uh , specific 29:32.939 --> 29:35.180 details around that particular 29:35.180 --> 29:38.219 shootdown . Um , and the crews , when 29:38.219 --> 29:40.219 they normally return , go through a 29:40.219 --> 29:42.441 debriefing process along with the other 29:42.441 --> 29:44.497 members of that flight that were out 29:44.497 --> 29:46.650 there . And they'll go back as they 29:46.650 --> 29:48.939 always do and forensically look at what 29:48.939 --> 29:51.106 are the tactical lessons learned . Did 29:51.106 --> 29:53.161 we sense or see something ? Could we 29:53.161 --> 29:55.272 have done something different ? We do 29:55.272 --> 29:57.439 that , as I mentioned in a prior press 29:57.439 --> 29:59.606 conference , every single time we take 29:59.606 --> 30:02.339 any loss like that so that we become a 30:02.339 --> 30:05.290 quick learning organization . On the 30:05.290 --> 30:07.579 other part of your question around the 30:07.579 --> 30:09.900 movement of Iranian military forces , 30:10.420 --> 30:12.739 US CENTCOM will continue to monitor 30:12.739 --> 30:15.229 that situation . They will continue to 30:15.229 --> 30:18.869 have a series of response options and 30:18.869 --> 30:21.390 if need be will come to the secretary 30:21.390 --> 30:23.501 and to the president for guidance and 30:23.501 --> 30:25.989 be prepared to do the things that 30:25.989 --> 30:28.156 they're ordered to do so against valid 30:28.156 --> 30:30.589 military targets in accordance with the 30:30.589 --> 30:32.533 normal procedures that we have . I 30:32.533 --> 30:34.910 would just note it's a good question . 30:35.150 --> 30:37.589 The more Iran moves , the more Iran 30:37.589 --> 30:39.660 moves forces , the more they emplace 30:39.660 --> 30:41.790 forces , the more easily targetable . 30:42.130 --> 30:44.297 They are for us right now . Remember , 30:44.297 --> 30:46.352 we , we , we're able to look , we're 30:46.352 --> 30:48.519 able to see , we're able to sense . We 30:48.519 --> 30:50.630 know they where they , so if they try 30:50.630 --> 30:50.109 to preposition , they're just creating 30:50.439 --> 30:52.729 riper military targets for us to strike 30:52.729 --> 30:54.896 should they make the wrong decision at 30:54.896 --> 30:56.729 the table right here . Um , Mr . 30:56.849 --> 30:59.127 Secretary Louis Martinez with ABC News . 30:59.127 --> 31:01.460 Uh , first , a question to General Kane , 31:01.460 --> 31:03.571 sir . Um , in your personal opinion , 31:03.571 --> 31:05.516 were the risks of the 3 of 4 moves 31:05.516 --> 31:07.460 being . Uh , closed because of the 31:07.460 --> 31:09.516 conflict , were they mitigated early 31:09.516 --> 31:11.627 enough , uh , in part of the decision 31:11.627 --> 31:13.849 making process , uh , to lead up to the 31:13.849 --> 31:16.016 decision to take , take action against 31:16.016 --> 31:18.479 Iran . And in your opinion , is Iran in 31:18.479 --> 31:20.701 control of the Strait of Hormuz we just 31:20.701 --> 31:22.757 heard the Secretary say that Iran is 31:22.757 --> 31:24.646 letting , uh , letting them ships 31:24.646 --> 31:26.479 through , which would imply that 31:26.479 --> 31:28.800 potentially it's not just , um , the 31:28.800 --> 31:31.130 secretary also said that , uh , the US , 31:31.319 --> 31:33.430 um , that the strait is open . He did 31:33.430 --> 31:35.319 say that , sir , um , but in your 31:35.319 --> 31:38.579 opinion , sir , uh , how can the US 31:38.579 --> 31:40.819 ensure safe passage , Mr . Secretary , 31:41.150 --> 31:44.400 um . Can you say today that the United 31:44.400 --> 31:46.344 States achieved the administration 31:46.344 --> 31:48.680 achieved the military goals that you , 31:49.579 --> 31:52.459 you've constantly delineated , um , and 31:52.459 --> 31:55.800 but strategically is that a victory 31:56.660 --> 31:58.660 because of that ? And also you said 31:58.660 --> 32:00.938 earlier that the president chose mercy , 32:00.979 --> 32:03.035 um , but you yourself had said three 32:03.035 --> 32:05.312 weeks ago that we will give no quarter , 32:05.312 --> 32:08.420 no quarter to Iranian troops . How do 32:08.420 --> 32:10.900 you , um , how do you correlate those 32:10.900 --> 32:12.880 two ? And do you think that your 32:12.880 --> 32:14.991 comments may have put American troops 32:14.991 --> 32:17.459 at risk ? No , uh , I , I try to be , 32:17.719 --> 32:20.699 um . Nice up here , but you did listen 32:20.699 --> 32:22.921 to what I said , right ? I laid out the 32:22.921 --> 32:24.477 objectives we believe we've 32:24.477 --> 32:26.699 accomplished them , and it's a historic 32:26.699 --> 32:28.810 military victory , uh , and President 32:28.810 --> 32:30.921 Trump has the option as the commander 32:30.921 --> 32:33.088 in chief to compel an adversary to the 32:33.088 --> 32:35.366 table , which is precisely what he did . 32:35.366 --> 32:37.421 And at the end he chose to say , you 32:37.421 --> 32:36.380 know what , I'd rather talk to you at 32:36.380 --> 32:38.500 the table than obliterate your 32:38.500 --> 32:40.900 capability to export oil and fund your 32:40.900 --> 32:42.900 terror regime . Uh , so he did make 32:42.900 --> 32:45.067 that choice . That was his choice . He 32:45.067 --> 32:47.067 was a president of peace , uh , and 32:47.067 --> 32:49.233 he's been willing to make those really 32:49.233 --> 32:51.289 tough calls that the American people 32:51.289 --> 32:53.567 elected him to do . Nothing we've done , 32:53.567 --> 32:55.789 not a single thing we've done . This is 32:55.789 --> 32:57.956 a typical , of course it's ABC , not a 32:57.956 --> 32:59.900 single thing we've done has put an 32:59.900 --> 33:02.178 American troop in more of a harm's way . 33:02.178 --> 33:04.233 We've only set our troops up to harm 33:04.233 --> 33:06.344 Iranian military capabilities , which 33:06.344 --> 33:08.456 they've done to devastating fashion , 33:08.459 --> 33:10.292 uh , and to great success , Mr . 33:10.292 --> 33:12.403 Chairman , you had a there's a lot in 33:12.403 --> 33:14.515 that question . Um , I'd love to take 33:14.515 --> 33:16.910 that offline and answer it , but it was , 33:16.989 --> 33:19.211 I , I'm struggling to find exactly what 33:19.211 --> 33:21.433 your question was , and that's probably 33:21.433 --> 33:23.545 me , not you . OK . All right , sorry 33:23.545 --> 33:25.545 about that . It's sorry , it was an 33:25.545 --> 33:27.600 indictment framed as a question , so 33:27.600 --> 33:29.822 you're forgiven for not understanding . 33:29.822 --> 33:31.711 Go ahead , please . No , you've , 33:31.711 --> 33:31.314 you've had your chance . Go ahead . 33:32.885 --> 33:34.829 Thank you very much . I believe so 33:34.829 --> 33:36.996 based on the diplomatic negotiations . 33:36.996 --> 33:39.464 I believe so . I believe so . Sorry , 33:39.645 --> 33:41.604 Mr . Kurd or Rahim Rashidi from 33:41.604 --> 33:43.505 Kurdistan . I'm representative 33:43.505 --> 33:46.785 Kurdistan TV and Kurdistan 24 today . 33:47.405 --> 33:50.839 I have a 2 . Questions . 33:51.439 --> 33:54.540 Mr . Secretary , will your forces stay 33:54.719 --> 33:58.160 in the region and continue to defend 33:58.160 --> 34:01.439 and protect your allies and take the 34:01.439 --> 34:04.119 responsibility for their security ? 34:04.930 --> 34:07.709 Second question is , as you mentioned . 34:09.428 --> 34:12.569 Many times that you have full control 34:12.569 --> 34:16.029 of Iran airspace . Do you still have 34:16.029 --> 34:18.959 this control or not ? Well , thank you , 34:18.969 --> 34:21.025 uh , for the question . The chairman 34:21.025 --> 34:23.358 mentioned the UAE and Bahrain and Qatar , 34:23.358 --> 34:26.030 Saudi Arabia , uh , Kuwait , uh , who 34:26.030 --> 34:27.974 have , who have fought shoulder to 34:27.974 --> 34:29.949 shoulder with us , especially in 34:29.949 --> 34:31.893 defense of our facilities , of our 34:31.893 --> 34:34.116 people , of , of their facilities , and 34:34.116 --> 34:34.020 we appreciate that . So that 34:34.020 --> 34:36.076 coordination , of course , uh , will 34:36.076 --> 34:38.131 continue . And then when it comes to 34:38.131 --> 34:40.076 the skies over Iran , I would just 34:40.076 --> 34:42.242 again , I would point to exhibit A and 34:42.242 --> 34:44.464 exhibit B . Uh , 7 hours in the day , 7 34:44.464 --> 34:46.631 hours at night , um , if , if , if any 34:46.631 --> 34:48.742 foreign adversary attempted to do the 34:48.742 --> 34:50.909 same over our soil , they would have , 34:50.909 --> 34:52.964 uh , no ability to do so . Uh , do , 34:52.964 --> 34:55.187 will they have a system here or there ? 34:55.187 --> 34:57.340 Maybe . Do they have a network , a 34:57.340 --> 34:59.284 system that's capable of defending 34:59.284 --> 35:01.451 their skies ? No , they don't . It's , 35:01.451 --> 35:03.618 as the chairman laid out , that that's 35:03.618 --> 35:05.451 been dismantled , degraded , and 35:05.451 --> 35:07.673 destroyed . So , uh , it's a , it's a , 35:07.673 --> 35:09.507 it's a slight distinction but an 35:09.507 --> 35:11.618 important one . Yes , right here . Go 35:11.618 --> 35:13.729 ahead in the middle of a war . Excuse 35:13.729 --> 35:13.610 me , you got a question . Go ahead . 35:13.959 --> 35:16.399 Yes , yes , two questions actually for 35:16.399 --> 35:19.050 you . So during this time , is the 35:19.050 --> 35:20.828 president still , are you still 35:20.828 --> 35:23.929 encouraging civilians to rise up 35:23.929 --> 35:26.096 against the regime , or are they , are 35:26.096 --> 35:28.096 they satisfied with this new regime 35:28.096 --> 35:30.262 change , or they , or is this two week 35:30.262 --> 35:32.318 period ? Period to kind of see where 35:32.318 --> 35:34.262 that leads . Also talked about the 35:34.262 --> 35:36.485 enriched uranium going in there . Would 35:36.485 --> 35:38.373 that require , would that require 35:38.373 --> 35:40.540 special forces or other military , our 35:40.540 --> 35:42.485 service members who would that who 35:42.485 --> 35:44.596 would who would be basically going in 35:44.596 --> 35:46.762 there and trusted to going in there to 35:46.762 --> 35:48.689 get that uranium out again on the 35:48.689 --> 35:50.689 uranium we're watching it . We know 35:50.689 --> 35:52.856 what they have and . They will give it 35:52.856 --> 35:54.967 up and we'll get it and we'll take it 35:54.967 --> 35:57.022 if we have to , we , we can do it in 35:57.022 --> 35:59.133 any , any means necessary . So that's 35:59.133 --> 36:01.133 something the president is going to 36:01.133 --> 36:03.189 solve for . We already have Midnight 36:03.189 --> 36:05.411 Hammer with where with the place we put 36:05.411 --> 36:07.356 them in and the reason it's in the 36:07.356 --> 36:09.578 situation where it is . Uh , the second 36:09.578 --> 36:11.800 one was about the people . Listen , I , 36:11.800 --> 36:11.800 I would love to see the Iranian people 36:11.800 --> 36:13.856 take advantage of this opportunity . 36:14.199 --> 36:15.977 They have been oppressed by the 36:15.977 --> 36:18.520 previous regime and they'll have a new 36:18.520 --> 36:21.120 opportunity with this regime that 36:21.120 --> 36:23.231 remains to be seen . That was not our 36:23.231 --> 36:25.398 objective in this effort , but they're 36:25.398 --> 36:27.398 brave people . Horrible things have 36:27.398 --> 36:29.287 been done to them by the previous 36:29.287 --> 36:31.509 regime . Tens of thousands targeted and 36:31.509 --> 36:33.564 killed and assassinated in a way the 36:33.564 --> 36:35.676 government never should , and we wish 36:35.676 --> 36:34.760 them the best . Absolutely . Thank you 36:34.760 --> 36:36.040 all very much . Appreciate it .