Washington, Sep 12 (V7N)- US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted the ongoing conflict with Iran during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, with Hegseth asserting that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz and will “finish this war.”
Speaking at a commemoration ceremony at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the United States continues to face enemies seeking to harm its citizens, portraying the conflict with Iran as part of a broader struggle against terrorism.
“The fight against evil forces has continued and persists to this day,” Hegseth said. “There are still enemies who hate us. Every day, they plot to diminish our strength and kill our citizens—including Islamist terrorists both at home and abroad.”
Hegseth also highlighted US military operations against Iran over the past six months. He claimed that American forces had eliminated several Iranian leaders, destroyed Iran’s air force and weakened its defense capabilities.
“We are ensuring that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. Economic pressure is mounting daily. We control the Strait of Hormuz. We will finish this fight,” he said.
Preventing Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons has remained a central objective of the US military campaign, according to the Trump administration.
The references to the ongoing conflict with Iran during a ceremony dedicated to the victims of the September 11 attacks drew attention, as the event was primarily intended to honor the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks and remember the national unity that followed.
Trump, in his remarks, focused more heavily on commemorating the victims and honoring US service members serving overseas.
“We honor the service members who are working right now to ensure that the Islamic Republic of Iran—the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism—never acquires nuclear weapons,” Trump said.
The remarks linked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with the Trump administration’s current confrontation with Iran, again putting Washington’s military objectives and its position on Tehran at the center of attention.
END/SMA/AJ
