Washington

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday claimed that Iran sought a truce following a “decisive military victory” by US forces during what he termed ‘Operation Epic Fury.’

Speaking to journalists at the White House after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Hegseth said the American military inflicted significant damage on Iran’s strategic infrastructure through a large-scale aerial campaign.

“President Trump created this moment. Iran requested this ceasefire under pressure… Operation Epic Fury was historic and overwhelming. It devastated Iran’s military capabilities, rendering them ineffective for years to come,” he said, noting that hundreds of strikes were carried out in just a few hours.

Hegseth claimed that 800 attacks were conducted on a single night, targeting Iran’s defence industrial base. He also alleged that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded, though he did not provide evidence to substantiate this statement. The secretary emphasized that the US spared further targets, highlighting that the ceasefire was agreed under intense pressure from American operations.

US President Donald Trump had earlier paused the “bombing and attack” campaign, announcing a bilateral, two-week ceasefire and describing a 10-point proposal from Iran as a workable foundation for a permanent agreement. On Truth Social, Trump said that most US military objectives had already been achieved and that the pause allowed for continued diplomatic engagement.

Trump clarified that the suspension of attacks was in response to requests from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, and was conditional on Iran ensuring the “complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.”

According to the US, Iran agreed to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks and to pause military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on X that Iranian forces would halt defensive operations as long as attacks ceased.

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The focus now turns to diplomacy, with talks scheduled in Islamabad on Friday between the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation, headed by Vice President JD Vance.