1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:13,380 --> 00:00:15,939 Iran has been a threat to the United 3 00:00:15,939 --> 00:00:19,159 States and the free world for 47 years . 4 00:00:20,309 --> 00:00:22,476 Chance of death to America , targeting 5 00:00:22,476 --> 00:00:25,069 our people , killing Americans , lying 6 00:00:25,069 --> 00:00:27,069 and blackmailing their way toward a 7 00:00:27,069 --> 00:00:30,350 nuclear weapon , so they thought . No 8 00:00:30,350 --> 00:00:34,119 longer Not on our watch . Other 9 00:00:34,119 --> 00:00:36,230 presidents marked time and kicked the 10 00:00:36,230 --> 00:00:38,430 can down the road . President Trump 11 00:00:38,810 --> 00:00:41,689 made history . From the strike that 12 00:00:41,689 --> 00:00:44,580 took out Qasem Soleimani . To tearing 13 00:00:44,580 --> 00:00:48,110 up the disastrous Obama-Iran deal . To 14 00:00:48,110 --> 00:00:50,332 the precision campaign that obliterated 15 00:00:50,332 --> 00:00:52,221 Iran's nuclear sites in Operation 16 00:00:52,221 --> 00:00:53,999 Midnight Hammer to the decisive 17 00:00:53,999 --> 00:00:56,054 military victory we just achieved in 18 00:00:56,054 --> 00:00:58,939 Operation Epic Fury . No other 19 00:00:58,939 --> 00:01:01,290 president has shown the courage and 20 00:01:01,290 --> 00:01:03,939 resolve of this commander in chief . 21 00:01:04,779 --> 00:01:07,309 President Trump forged this moment . 22 00:01:07,459 --> 00:01:10,250 Iran begged for this ceasefire , and we 23 00:01:10,250 --> 00:01:13,110 all know it . As the president truth 24 00:01:13,110 --> 00:01:15,610 this morning , a big day for world 25 00:01:15,610 --> 00:01:18,459 peace . Iran wants it to happen . 26 00:01:18,919 --> 00:01:22,849 They've had enough . Operation 27 00:01:22,849 --> 00:01:25,510 Epic Fury was a historic and 28 00:01:25,510 --> 00:01:28,129 overwhelming victory on the battlefield . 29 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,440 A capital V military victory . 30 00:01:33,449 --> 00:01:36,410 By any measure , epic fury decimated 31 00:01:36,410 --> 00:01:38,690 Iran's military and rendered it combat 32 00:01:38,690 --> 00:01:42,459 ineffective for years to come . You see , 33 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:46,209 in less than 40 days . One of our 34 00:01:46,209 --> 00:01:48,376 combatant commands , Central Command , 35 00:01:48,376 --> 00:01:51,050 CENTCOM , using less than 10% of 36 00:01:51,050 --> 00:01:52,772 America's total combat power . 37 00:01:53,589 --> 00:01:55,709 Dismantled one of the world's largest 38 00:01:55,709 --> 00:01:57,910 militaries , the world's leading state 39 00:01:57,910 --> 00:02:00,470 sponsor of terrorism proved utterly 40 00:02:00,470 --> 00:02:03,989 incapable . Of defending itself , its 41 00:02:03,989 --> 00:02:07,480 people , or it's territory . We untied 42 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,759 just a fraction of our strength , and 43 00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:12,720 Iran suffered a devastating military 44 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,970 defeat . Together with our Israeli 45 00:02:15,970 --> 00:02:18,570 partners , America's military achieved 46 00:02:18,570 --> 00:02:22,130 every single objective on plan , on 47 00:02:22,130 --> 00:02:25,289 schedule , exactly as laid out from day 48 00:02:25,289 --> 00:02:28,369 one . Iran's navy is at the bottom of 49 00:02:28,369 --> 00:02:30,425 the sea , whether it's the Soleimani 50 00:02:30,425 --> 00:02:32,520 class , their frigate class , their 51 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,250 prized drone aircraft carriers , 52 00:02:35,649 --> 00:02:38,399 submarines , mine layers sunk . 53 00:02:39,470 --> 00:02:41,630 Iran's air force has been wiped out . 54 00:02:42,660 --> 00:02:45,110 Iran no longer has an air defense , any 55 00:02:45,110 --> 00:02:47,110 sort of a comprehensive air defense 56 00:02:47,110 --> 00:02:50,350 system . We own their skies . Their 57 00:02:50,350 --> 00:02:52,309 missile program is functionally 58 00:02:52,309 --> 00:02:54,589 destroyed , launchers , production 59 00:02:54,589 --> 00:02:56,710 facilities , and existing stockpiles 60 00:02:56,710 --> 00:03:00,399 depleted and decimated . And almost 61 00:03:00,399 --> 00:03:02,343 completely ineffective . Iran shot 62 00:03:02,343 --> 00:03:04,880 hundreds and hundreds of missiles and 63 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:06,991 one-way attack drones at our aircraft 64 00:03:06,991 --> 00:03:09,199 carrier . They were obsessed with it . 65 00:03:10,110 --> 00:03:12,470 And they never got even close . Every 66 00:03:12,470 --> 00:03:14,949 single one of those shots easily shot 67 00:03:14,949 --> 00:03:18,029 down miles and miles away from the Abe 68 00:03:18,029 --> 00:03:21,199 Lincoln . They were blowing ammo . Into 69 00:03:21,199 --> 00:03:25,190 fantasy land . Contrast that with 70 00:03:25,190 --> 00:03:27,669 most significantly , in last night's 71 00:03:27,669 --> 00:03:31,070 wave of more than 800 strikes , we 72 00:03:31,070 --> 00:03:33,869 finished completely destroying Iran's 73 00:03:33,869 --> 00:03:37,210 defense industrial base . A core pillar 74 00:03:37,350 --> 00:03:40,169 of our mission objective . What little 75 00:03:40,169 --> 00:03:42,391 they have left buried in bunkers is all 76 00:03:42,391 --> 00:03:46,070 they will have . They can still shoot , 77 00:03:46,149 --> 00:03:47,982 we know that . Their command and 78 00:03:47,982 --> 00:03:50,038 control is so decimated , they can't 79 00:03:50,038 --> 00:03:52,093 really talk and coordinate . So they 80 00:03:52,093 --> 00:03:54,149 still may shoot here and there , but 81 00:03:54,149 --> 00:03:56,889 that would be very , very unwise . But 82 00:03:56,889 --> 00:03:59,110 they can no longer build missiles , 83 00:03:59,490 --> 00:04:01,610 build rockets , build launchers , or 84 00:04:01,610 --> 00:04:04,130 build UAVs . Their factories have been 85 00:04:04,130 --> 00:04:07,550 razed to the ground . Set back 86 00:04:07,929 --> 00:04:10,880 in historic fashion . You see , had 87 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,639 Iran refused our terms , the next 88 00:04:13,639 --> 00:04:15,639 targets would have been their power 89 00:04:15,639 --> 00:04:18,820 plants . Their bridges and oil and 90 00:04:18,820 --> 00:04:20,820 energy infrastructure targets they 91 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:23,309 could not defend . And could not 92 00:04:23,309 --> 00:04:25,420 realistically rebuild . It would have 93 00:04:25,420 --> 00:04:27,769 taken them decades , and we were locked 94 00:04:27,869 --> 00:04:30,070 and loaded . They couldn't defend 95 00:04:30,070 --> 00:04:32,619 against it . President Trump had the 96 00:04:32,619 --> 00:04:35,279 power to cripple Iran's entire economy 97 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,859 in minutes . But he chose , he , he 98 00:04:38,859 --> 00:04:42,109 chose mercy . He spared those targets 99 00:04:42,109 --> 00:04:44,109 because Iran accepted the ceasefire 100 00:04:44,109 --> 00:04:47,989 under overwhelming pressure . The new 101 00:04:47,989 --> 00:04:50,100 Iranian regime understood that a deal 102 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:52,299 was far better than the fate that 103 00:04:52,299 --> 00:04:55,809 awaited them . This new regime just 104 00:04:55,910 --> 00:04:57,966 happened to look at what happened to 105 00:04:57,966 --> 00:04:59,688 their predecessors . Their top 106 00:04:59,688 --> 00:05:01,910 leadership . Was systematically 107 00:05:01,910 --> 00:05:04,899 eliminated . The previous Iranian 108 00:05:04,899 --> 00:05:08,480 Supreme Leader . Dead The Supreme 109 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,600 National Security Council secretary 110 00:05:11,079 --> 00:05:13,609 dead . The Supreme Leader office 111 00:05:13,609 --> 00:05:16,769 advisor , dead . The supreme Leader 112 00:05:16,769 --> 00:05:20,630 military office chief dead . The 113 00:05:20,630 --> 00:05:23,160 defense minister No longer with us . 114 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,429 The IRGC commander , dead . The Armed 115 00:05:27,429 --> 00:05:29,630 Forces General Staff commander dead . 116 00:05:30,589 --> 00:05:34,130 The intelligence minister . Dead . The 117 00:05:34,130 --> 00:05:37,369 IRGC Navy commander . No longer here , 118 00:05:37,790 --> 00:05:40,480 the IRGC intel chief . Dead . 119 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,871 I skipped over a bunch and I could go 120 00:05:43,871 --> 00:05:47,420 on and on and on to include the new 121 00:05:47,679 --> 00:05:49,735 so-called new supreme Leader wounded 122 00:05:49,735 --> 00:05:53,269 and disfigured . This new regime was 123 00:05:53,269 --> 00:05:55,950 out of options and out of time , so 124 00:05:55,950 --> 00:05:58,420 they cut a deal . They know this 125 00:05:58,420 --> 00:06:00,476 agreement means that they will never 126 00:06:00,476 --> 00:06:03,970 ever possess a nuclear weapon . Under 127 00:06:03,970 --> 00:06:06,600 the terms , any nuclear material they 128 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,450 should have will be removed . Any 129 00:06:10,450 --> 00:06:12,617 material , excuse me , they should not 130 00:06:12,617 --> 00:06:14,783 have will be removed . Right now their 131 00:06:14,783 --> 00:06:17,690 dust is deeply buried and watched 24/7 132 00:06:17,690 --> 00:06:19,912 overhead . The president has been clear 133 00:06:19,912 --> 00:06:21,912 from the beginning there will be no 134 00:06:21,912 --> 00:06:25,329 Iranian nuclear weapons , period . Full 135 00:06:25,329 --> 00:06:27,730 stop . Other presidents said it . 136 00:06:28,010 --> 00:06:31,760 President Trump did it . Operation 137 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,880 Epic Fury , less than 6 weeks , clear 138 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:36,820 mission , decisive action , 139 00:06:37,119 --> 00:06:39,839 overwhelming firepower , America first , 140 00:06:40,079 --> 00:06:42,399 a historic battlefield victory . 141 00:06:43,910 --> 00:06:45,910 For decades , Iran killed Americans 142 00:06:45,910 --> 00:06:48,910 with roadside bombs in Iraq , using 143 00:06:48,910 --> 00:06:51,510 cowardly proxies to do their work while 144 00:06:51,510 --> 00:06:54,619 they hid safely in Tehran . They struck 145 00:06:54,619 --> 00:06:56,452 our embassies with car bombs and 146 00:06:56,452 --> 00:06:58,341 attacked from the shadows , never 147 00:06:58,341 --> 00:07:01,390 daring to face us toe to toe . They 148 00:07:01,390 --> 00:07:03,501 thought they could bleed America with 149 00:07:03,501 --> 00:07:06,160 impunity . Well , they just learned the 150 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,399 hard way , what happens when you try to 151 00:07:08,399 --> 00:07:11,609 fight us directly . And even when they 152 00:07:11,609 --> 00:07:15,130 got lucky , one time in 40 days , and 153 00:07:15,130 --> 00:07:16,908 downed two of our pilots , they 154 00:07:16,908 --> 00:07:19,730 couldn't hold them . In a daring 14 155 00:07:19,730 --> 00:07:22,630 hour rescue operation , 7 hours in 156 00:07:22,630 --> 00:07:25,829 daylight and 7 hours of night , both 157 00:07:25,829 --> 00:07:28,940 pilots were recovered safely . Not once . 158 00:07:29,959 --> 00:07:33,589 But twice . A daylight thunder 159 00:07:33,589 --> 00:07:36,290 run right up the middle of their 160 00:07:36,290 --> 00:07:39,470 country , boots on the ground . 161 00:07:40,209 --> 00:07:43,730 A midnight raid right up the middle of 162 00:07:43,730 --> 00:07:47,369 their country , boots on the ground . 163 00:07:48,529 --> 00:07:51,660 Zero American casualties . The Iranians 164 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:54,619 humiliated and demoralized . We control 165 00:07:54,619 --> 00:07:57,049 their fate , not the other way around . 166 00:07:57,380 --> 00:07:59,959 That's why they came to the table . 167 00:08:01,589 --> 00:08:03,756 Iran's defeat is America's retribution 168 00:08:03,756 --> 00:08:05,760 for every American loss to Iranian 169 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,459 terror . Especially those brave troops 170 00:08:08,459 --> 00:08:10,619 killed by Iranian-made roadside bombs 171 00:08:10,619 --> 00:08:13,160 in Iraq that my generation knows so 172 00:08:13,339 --> 00:08:15,630 well . And for the suffering their 173 00:08:15,630 --> 00:08:17,852 regime has inflicted around the world . 174 00:08:18,390 --> 00:08:20,910 Now we have a chance at real peace and 175 00:08:20,910 --> 00:08:23,820 a real deal . The War Department for 176 00:08:23,820 --> 00:08:27,730 now , for now , has done its part . We 177 00:08:27,730 --> 00:08:29,980 stand ready in the background to ensure 178 00:08:29,980 --> 00:08:32,289 Iran upholds every reasonable term . 179 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:36,098 And as everyone knows , nobody makes a 180 00:08:36,098 --> 00:08:38,249 better deal than President Trump . 181 00:08:39,979 --> 00:08:42,419 To the warriors of epic fury , I say 182 00:08:42,419 --> 00:08:45,028 well done . You're the backbone of our 183 00:08:45,028 --> 00:08:47,139 country , your skill , your bravery , 184 00:08:47,139 --> 00:08:49,084 and sheer guts and grit showed the 185 00:08:49,084 --> 00:08:51,948 world what America is all about . I'm 186 00:08:51,948 --> 00:08:54,250 proud of you . We're proud of you . 187 00:08:54,869 --> 00:08:57,070 President is proud of you . Job well 188 00:08:57,070 --> 00:09:01,000 done . But stay vigilant And stay ready . 189 00:09:02,479 --> 00:09:04,570 To the families of our fallen , your 190 00:09:04,570 --> 00:09:06,737 sacrifice was in service of a historic 191 00:09:06,737 --> 00:09:08,849 cause , and we will always remember 192 00:09:08,849 --> 00:09:12,469 your heroes , our heroes . We will 193 00:09:12,479 --> 00:09:14,479 continue to honor them . And to our 194 00:09:14,479 --> 00:09:16,646 Israeli allies , thank you for being a 195 00:09:16,646 --> 00:09:19,799 brave , capable and willing ally on 196 00:09:19,799 --> 00:09:21,743 this battlefield . The rest of the 197 00:09:21,743 --> 00:09:23,743 world and the rest of our so-called 198 00:09:23,743 --> 00:09:25,910 allies saw what real capabilities look 199 00:09:25,910 --> 00:09:28,159 like . They should take some notes . 200 00:09:29,739 --> 00:09:32,320 Our troops , our American warriors 201 00:09:32,590 --> 00:09:35,739 deserve the credit for this day . But 202 00:09:35,739 --> 00:09:38,460 God deserves all the glory . Tens of 203 00:09:38,460 --> 00:09:40,739 thousands of sorties , refuelings and 204 00:09:40,739 --> 00:09:43,380 strikes carried out under the 205 00:09:43,380 --> 00:09:45,380 protection of divine Providence , a 206 00:09:45,380 --> 00:09:48,500 massive effort with miraculous 207 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:51,950 protection . Dude , 44 bravo 208 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,059 spoke for all of us . God is 209 00:09:56,479 --> 00:09:59,719 good . The chairman will now provide an 210 00:09:59,719 --> 00:10:02,320 even deeper military detail on the 211 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,653 historic success of Operation Epic Fury . 212 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,512 Mr . Chairman , thank you , Mr . 213 00:10:06,512 --> 00:10:08,623 Secretary , and good morning , ladies 214 00:10:08,623 --> 00:10:10,846 and gentlemen . Thanks for being here . 215 00:10:10,846 --> 00:10:12,623 I want to start this morning by 216 00:10:12,623 --> 00:10:14,846 honoring the 13 members of our American 217 00:10:14,846 --> 00:10:16,957 Joint Force who were killed in action 218 00:10:16,957 --> 00:10:19,123 thus far during this operation . Their 219 00:10:19,123 --> 00:10:21,346 sacrifice and that of their families is 220 00:10:21,346 --> 00:10:23,346 deeply important to us , and we are 221 00:10:23,346 --> 00:10:25,512 grateful , we are grateful for each of 222 00:10:25,512 --> 00:10:27,679 them and we'll continue to mourn their 223 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:29,735 loss . Their names and their bravery 224 00:10:30,070 --> 00:10:32,630 will never be forgotten . On February 225 00:10:32,630 --> 00:10:34,574 28th , the president of the United 226 00:10:34,574 --> 00:10:36,463 States ordered the Joint Force to 227 00:10:36,463 --> 00:10:38,519 execute Operation Epic Fury with the 228 00:10:38,519 --> 00:10:40,750 direct , uh , direction to accomplish 229 00:10:40,750 --> 00:10:42,806 three distinct military objectives . 230 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,016 Destroy Iran's ballistic missile and 231 00:10:45,016 --> 00:10:47,760 drone drone capabilities , destroy the 232 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,039 Iranian navy , and destroy their 233 00:10:50,039 --> 00:10:52,239 defense industrial base to ensure that 234 00:10:52,239 --> 00:10:55,200 Iran cannot reconstitute the ability to 235 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,311 project power outside their borders . 236 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:59,640 Over the course of 38 days of major 237 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,799 combat operation , the joint force 238 00:11:01,799 --> 00:11:03,799 achieved the military objectives as 239 00:11:03,799 --> 00:11:06,260 defined by the president . We welcome 240 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,599 the ongoing ceasefire and as the 241 00:11:08,599 --> 00:11:10,700 Secretary said , we hope that Iran 242 00:11:10,919 --> 00:11:13,159 chooses a lasting peace , but as 243 00:11:13,159 --> 00:11:15,239 Secretary Hegseth said , let us be 244 00:11:15,239 --> 00:11:17,640 clear , a ceasefire is a pause and the 245 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,559 joint force remains ready if ordered or 246 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,460 called upon to resume combat operations 247 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,520 with the same speed and precision as 248 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,880 we've demonstrated over the last 38 249 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,102 days , and we hope that that is not the 250 00:11:31,102 --> 00:11:33,539 case . I want to congratulate and thank 251 00:11:33,539 --> 00:11:35,500 the leadership today at US Central 252 00:11:35,500 --> 00:11:37,500 Command , including the commander , 253 00:11:37,500 --> 00:11:39,460 Admiral Brad Cooper , the deputy 254 00:11:39,460 --> 00:11:41,516 commander , Lieutenant General Kevin 255 00:11:41,516 --> 00:11:43,571 Leahy , the senior enlisted leader , 256 00:11:43,571 --> 00:11:46,750 Fleet Master Chief Compton . And every 257 00:11:46,750 --> 00:11:48,639 one of the component commanders , 258 00:11:48,690 --> 00:11:50,780 senior enlisted leaders , and 259 00:11:50,780 --> 00:11:53,590 especially the staff down at US Central 260 00:11:53,590 --> 00:11:55,820 Command who does not get called out for 261 00:11:55,820 --> 00:11:58,659 any of the credit but grinds 24/7 to 262 00:11:58,659 --> 00:12:00,881 help offer the options that we bring to 263 00:12:00,881 --> 00:12:02,881 the Secretary and the President . I 264 00:12:02,881 --> 00:12:04,937 also want to highlight the forces in 265 00:12:04,937 --> 00:12:06,881 the United States European Command 266 00:12:06,881 --> 00:12:09,103 under the command of Alexis Grikowicz , 267 00:12:09,103 --> 00:12:11,048 who protected the Western flank in 268 00:12:11,048 --> 00:12:13,280 support of CENTCOM . And I wanna thank 269 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:16,010 our partners across the intelligence 270 00:12:16,010 --> 00:12:18,599 community . Our ability to see and 271 00:12:18,599 --> 00:12:20,821 understand what an adversary is doing , 272 00:12:21,130 --> 00:12:24,210 uh , help us to be as decisive as we 273 00:12:24,210 --> 00:12:26,570 must be on the battlefield , and that 274 00:12:26,570 --> 00:12:30,489 includes DIA , NSA , NGA , the 275 00:12:30,489 --> 00:12:32,630 CIA , and the National Reconnaissance 276 00:12:32,630 --> 00:12:35,320 Office and others . I want to thank the 277 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,542 other combat commands who have thus far 278 00:12:37,542 --> 00:12:40,070 contributed along the way to US Central 279 00:12:40,070 --> 00:12:42,489 Command . This includes Transom , 280 00:12:42,919 --> 00:12:46,650 StratCom , SpaceCom , SOCOM , and 281 00:12:46,650 --> 00:12:50,530 CyberCom , all of whom poured all in in 282 00:12:50,530 --> 00:12:53,239 support of CENTCOM's efforts . And I 283 00:12:53,239 --> 00:12:55,406 want to thank , as the secretary did , 284 00:12:55,406 --> 00:12:57,869 our Gulf partners who fought alongside 285 00:12:57,869 --> 00:12:59,925 each and every one of us every day , 286 00:13:00,119 --> 00:13:02,409 from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , the 287 00:13:02,409 --> 00:13:05,000 UAE , Bahrain , Qatar , Kuwait , and 288 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,559 Jordan , all who joined us together to 289 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,080 defend and protect our people and our 290 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,369 assets and who , if required , stand 291 00:13:13,369 --> 00:13:15,909 ready to do so again . And I want to 292 00:13:15,909 --> 00:13:18,679 thank my team at the Joint Staff who 293 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,719 work literally around the clock in 294 00:13:21,719 --> 00:13:24,239 order to help me offer the options that 295 00:13:24,239 --> 00:13:27,000 I must with the associated risks to the 296 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,440 secretary and to the president . They 297 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,599 are the hardest working people that I 298 00:13:31,599 --> 00:13:33,599 know , and I am deeply grateful for 299 00:13:33,599 --> 00:13:37,059 their service . Most importantly today , 300 00:13:37,250 --> 00:13:39,570 I want to thank America's members of 301 00:13:39,570 --> 00:13:41,650 the Joint Force who've poured 302 00:13:41,650 --> 00:13:43,872 everything that they can into Operation 303 00:13:43,872 --> 00:13:47,010 Epic Fury and their families who've 304 00:13:47,010 --> 00:13:50,650 worked 24 hours a day for 38 days . The 305 00:13:50,650 --> 00:13:53,250 secretary and I could not be more proud 306 00:13:53,250 --> 00:13:55,419 of each and every one of you . And we 307 00:13:55,419 --> 00:13:58,299 deeply appreciate the support of the 308 00:13:58,299 --> 00:14:01,250 American people who we know always have 309 00:14:01,250 --> 00:14:04,020 us in our thoughts and prayers , and we 310 00:14:04,020 --> 00:14:06,580 can feel this literally every single 311 00:14:06,580 --> 00:14:09,280 day . As the Secretary said , the 312 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,113 United States has devastated the 313 00:14:11,113 --> 00:14:13,640 regime's ability to harm Americans and 314 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,039 our interests for years to come . Since 315 00:14:16,039 --> 00:14:17,880 the beginning of major combat 316 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:19,936 operations , the United States Joint 317 00:14:19,936 --> 00:14:22,213 Forces struck more than 13,000 targets , 318 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:24,799 including in that 13,000 , more than 319 00:14:24,799 --> 00:14:27,799 4000 dynamic targets that popped up on 320 00:14:27,799 --> 00:14:30,159 the battlefield and were immediately 321 00:14:30,159 --> 00:14:32,159 addressed thanks to the exceptional 322 00:14:32,159 --> 00:14:33,881 command and control system and 323 00:14:33,881 --> 00:14:36,119 intelligence , acumen and agility of 324 00:14:36,119 --> 00:14:38,909 our joint force . CENTCOM forces 325 00:14:38,909 --> 00:14:41,299 destroyed approximately 80% of Iran's 326 00:14:41,299 --> 00:14:43,309 air defense systems , striking more 327 00:14:43,309 --> 00:14:45,989 than 1500 air defense targets , more 328 00:14:45,989 --> 00:14:48,630 than 450 ballistic missile storage 329 00:14:48,630 --> 00:14:52,190 facilities , 800 one-way attack drones 330 00:14:52,190 --> 00:14:54,150 storage facilities . All of these 331 00:14:54,150 --> 00:14:56,520 systems are gone . We've devastated 332 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,242 Iran's command and control and 333 00:14:58,242 --> 00:15:00,640 logistical networks , destroying more 334 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,320 than 2000 command and control nodes and 335 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,119 degrading their ability to target US 336 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,200 and friendly forces . It is , and we 337 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,400 know this , incredibly frustrating 338 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,320 right now to be a lower level Iranian 339 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,487 commander trying to fight your fight . 340 00:15:16,989 --> 00:15:18,989 As the Secretary said , the Iranian 341 00:15:18,989 --> 00:15:21,100 navy now lies mostly at the bottom of 342 00:15:21,100 --> 00:15:23,211 the Arabian Gulf , and we assess that 343 00:15:23,211 --> 00:15:25,109 we've sunk more than 90% of their 344 00:15:25,109 --> 00:15:27,190 regular fleet , including all of the 345 00:15:27,190 --> 00:15:29,079 major surface combatants , as the 346 00:15:29,079 --> 00:15:31,909 Secretary said . 150 ships are at the 347 00:15:31,909 --> 00:15:34,190 bottom of the ocean and half of the 348 00:15:34,190 --> 00:15:37,989 IRGC Navy's small attack boats . Joint 349 00:15:37,989 --> 00:15:40,479 fires projected from the land , sea , 350 00:15:40,489 --> 00:15:43,919 and air executed more than 700 strikes 351 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,502 against naval mine targets , and we had 352 00:15:46,502 --> 00:15:48,558 assessed that we destroyed more than 353 00:15:48,558 --> 00:15:52,130 95% of their naval mines . And perhaps 354 00:15:52,130 --> 00:15:54,570 most importantly , we've destroyed 355 00:15:54,570 --> 00:15:57,330 Iran's defense industrial base , their 356 00:15:57,330 --> 00:15:59,450 ability to reconstitute those 357 00:15:59,450 --> 00:16:02,500 capabilities for years to come . We 358 00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:04,333 attacked along with our partners 359 00:16:04,333 --> 00:16:06,359 approximately 90% of their weapons 360 00:16:06,359 --> 00:16:09,640 factories . Every factory that produced 361 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,640 Shaheed one-way attack drones was 362 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,320 struck . Every factory that produces 363 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,542 the guidance systems that go into those 364 00:16:16,542 --> 00:16:18,599 drones was struck . Their missile 365 00:16:18,599 --> 00:16:20,669 defense industrial bases shattered , 366 00:16:20,679 --> 00:16:22,760 with more than 80% of their missile 367 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,039 facilities gone , as well as their 368 00:16:25,039 --> 00:16:27,359 solid rocket motor , uh , production 369 00:16:27,359 --> 00:16:30,000 capability . It will take years for 370 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,309 Iran to rebuild any major surface 371 00:16:32,309 --> 00:16:35,239 combatants , as more than 20 naval 372 00:16:35,239 --> 00:16:37,440 production and fabrication facilities 373 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,840 have been damaged or destroyed , and 374 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,840 nearly 80% of Iran's nuclear industrial 375 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,599 base was hit , further degrading their 376 00:16:45,599 --> 00:16:48,359 attempts to attain a nuclear weapon . 377 00:16:49,369 --> 00:16:51,729 Throughout Operation Epic Fury , our 378 00:16:51,729 --> 00:16:54,169 joint force struck at the heart of 379 00:16:54,169 --> 00:16:57,150 Iran's ability to project power and 380 00:16:57,150 --> 00:16:59,094 threaten the United States and the 381 00:16:59,094 --> 00:17:01,690 region , and in order to do this , it 382 00:17:01,690 --> 00:17:04,250 required the service and sacrifice of 383 00:17:04,250 --> 00:17:07,109 more than 50,000 American warfighters 384 00:17:07,369 --> 00:17:10,569 deployed across CENTCOM , UCO , and 385 00:17:10,569 --> 00:17:13,348 stateside . The joint force flew more 386 00:17:13,348 --> 00:17:16,828 than 10,000 missions , including 62 387 00:17:16,828 --> 00:17:19,428 bomber missions , 18 of which flew 388 00:17:19,428 --> 00:17:22,428 round trip from the United States to 389 00:17:22,428 --> 00:17:25,308 deliver military bombs on military 390 00:17:25,308 --> 00:17:27,828 targets . Each of these missions was 391 00:17:27,828 --> 00:17:31,269 more than 30 hours in duration , and we 392 00:17:31,269 --> 00:17:34,548 did that 18 times . No other military 393 00:17:34,548 --> 00:17:36,788 in the world can do that , and it's a 394 00:17:36,788 --> 00:17:39,308 testament to the logistical force that 395 00:17:39,308 --> 00:17:42,650 quietly serves behind them . I cannot 396 00:17:42,650 --> 00:17:45,800 thank Transcom and the Air Force tanker 397 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,890 and mobility force more . Combined with 398 00:17:48,890 --> 00:17:51,010 Army and Navy joint fires , we stuck 399 00:17:51,010 --> 00:17:54,010 more than 13,000 targets , and along 400 00:17:54,010 --> 00:17:56,250 with our Gulf partners , we've thus far 401 00:17:56,250 --> 00:17:59,530 intercepted 1700 ballistic missiles and 402 00:17:59,530 --> 00:18:01,530 one-way attack drones defending our 403 00:18:01,530 --> 00:18:03,930 forces and our partners in the civilian 404 00:18:03,930 --> 00:18:07,089 population , and we remain ready to do 405 00:18:07,089 --> 00:18:10,829 so should the need arise . Along the 406 00:18:10,829 --> 00:18:13,869 way we consume more than 6 million 407 00:18:13,869 --> 00:18:16,469 meals and by my estimate more than 408 00:18:16,469 --> 00:18:20,310 950,000 gallons of coffee , 2 409 00:18:20,310 --> 00:18:22,469 million energy drinks , and a lot of 410 00:18:22,469 --> 00:18:24,580 nicotine , but I'm not saying that we 411 00:18:24,580 --> 00:18:28,020 have a problem . Um , I've laid out the 412 00:18:28,020 --> 00:18:31,479 statistics , but it does not truly 413 00:18:31,479 --> 00:18:34,000 capture the nature of combat . This is 414 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,229 gritty and unforgiving business . It's 415 00:18:37,229 --> 00:18:39,760 chaotic . It's hot . It's dark . It's 416 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,839 unpredictable , and there's always 417 00:18:41,839 --> 00:18:45,359 unknowns , and our people proudly 418 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,800 walked into those unknowns and continue 419 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,967 forward and through it all , the joint 420 00:18:49,967 --> 00:18:52,280 force has demonstrated the unwavering 421 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,199 resolve that the nation demands of us . 422 00:18:55,959 --> 00:18:58,126 We are a mission focused force and our 423 00:18:58,126 --> 00:19:00,790 objectives always is to create the 424 00:19:00,790 --> 00:19:03,520 conditions for peace and today we have , 425 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,239 while be ready should that peace break , 426 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,020 which we hope it is not , and we remain 427 00:19:09,020 --> 00:19:11,719 ready . Before I turn it back to the 428 00:19:11,719 --> 00:19:13,800 secretary , I also want to quickly 429 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,280 revisit the rescue of the Air Force 430 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,630 fighter crew over the weekend . To give 431 00:19:18,630 --> 00:19:20,852 you an update , we've had the Secretary 432 00:19:20,852 --> 00:19:22,908 and I have had the profound honor of 433 00:19:22,908 --> 00:19:24,852 speaking directly with many of the 434 00:19:24,852 --> 00:19:27,109 warfighters on that mission , from the 435 00:19:27,109 --> 00:19:30,510 downed crew that that were picked up to 436 00:19:30,510 --> 00:19:32,729 those forces that went and got them . 437 00:19:33,229 --> 00:19:36,339 Hearing these stories firsthand has 438 00:19:36,339 --> 00:19:39,390 only deepened our appreciation for 439 00:19:39,390 --> 00:19:42,890 their tenacity , creativity , courage , 440 00:19:43,229 --> 00:19:45,800 and grit of the American Joint Force . 441 00:19:46,729 --> 00:19:50,719 This is a story that gets to the very 442 00:19:50,719 --> 00:19:54,000 heart and soul of who we are as a joint 443 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,920 force , who we are as Americans , 444 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,760 selfless sacrifice in service of 445 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,349 others from the backseater dude 446 00:20:04,349 --> 00:20:07,880 44 Bravo , whose pure and 447 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,819 unadulterated joy at seeing 448 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,599 those helicopters come into the valley . 449 00:20:15,060 --> 00:20:18,670 To get his front seater . In daylight , 450 00:20:19,329 --> 00:20:21,410 because he knew the front seater did 451 00:20:21,410 --> 00:20:25,209 not have a jacket and was so filled 452 00:20:25,209 --> 00:20:28,170 with heart leaping joy at his front 453 00:20:28,170 --> 00:20:30,670 seater getting picked up . To the 454 00:20:30,670 --> 00:20:32,781 nighttime folks that went in and then 455 00:20:32,781 --> 00:20:36,109 got him , to the tanker forces that did 456 00:20:36,109 --> 00:20:38,349 the things that they had to do to give 457 00:20:38,349 --> 00:20:40,949 their own gas away to the support 458 00:20:40,949 --> 00:20:43,709 packages , to those that went into the 459 00:20:43,709 --> 00:20:46,869 desert landing site not once , not 460 00:20:46,869 --> 00:20:50,069 twice , but 3 times as we fought 461 00:20:50,069 --> 00:20:52,910 through multiple contingencies , this 462 00:20:52,910 --> 00:20:56,670 was and is a joint force that 463 00:20:56,670 --> 00:21:00,229 has the guts to try . That does not 464 00:21:00,229 --> 00:21:04,150 quit and who each and every day does 465 00:21:04,150 --> 00:21:06,729 the things that we must to dare to win . 466 00:21:07,239 --> 00:21:09,349 No lives were lost . We succeeded 467 00:21:09,349 --> 00:21:11,405 because the joint force is always at 468 00:21:11,405 --> 00:21:13,405 the ready . They trust each other . 469 00:21:13,405 --> 00:21:15,405 They trust their leaders , and they 470 00:21:15,405 --> 00:21:17,182 trust their training , and they 471 00:21:17,182 --> 00:21:19,349 remember first , foremost , and always 472 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,829 that we do these things so that others 473 00:21:21,829 --> 00:21:23,773 may live , and we will never leave 474 00:21:24,189 --> 00:21:26,430 anyone behind . The success of 475 00:21:26,430 --> 00:21:28,900 Operation Fury thus far and we hope it 476 00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:31,510 remains culminates with this incredible 477 00:21:31,510 --> 00:21:33,819 rescue over the weekend , a direct 478 00:21:33,819 --> 00:21:35,989 example of the professionalism and 479 00:21:35,989 --> 00:21:38,469 courage of the United States military 480 00:21:38,469 --> 00:21:41,020 and our joint force . It's the service 481 00:21:41,020 --> 00:21:42,853 members on the front lines , our 482 00:21:42,853 --> 00:21:44,890 partners in the region . Uh , our 483 00:21:44,890 --> 00:21:46,946 teammates , uh , in the intelligence 484 00:21:46,946 --> 00:21:49,168 community , our civilian leaders in the 485 00:21:49,168 --> 00:21:51,449 OSW side of the house , the American 486 00:21:51,449 --> 00:21:53,671 workers who build the tools and weapons 487 00:21:53,671 --> 00:21:55,782 that we use , and the American people 488 00:21:55,782 --> 00:21:57,838 who back us up that help us to go do 489 00:21:57,838 --> 00:22:00,410 these things , we stand here , I stand 490 00:22:00,410 --> 00:22:02,569 here humbled today but frankly not 491 00:22:02,569 --> 00:22:04,810 surprised by what the Joint Force has 492 00:22:04,810 --> 00:22:08,140 been able to do . Their performance is 493 00:22:08,140 --> 00:22:10,349 fueled by a deep commitment to each 494 00:22:10,349 --> 00:22:12,550 other , their mission , and to our 495 00:22:12,550 --> 00:22:15,650 country . It is an incredible , deep 496 00:22:15,869 --> 00:22:18,199 honor for me to be a part of this joint 497 00:22:18,199 --> 00:22:20,366 force , and I'm humbled by the service 498 00:22:20,366 --> 00:22:22,829 and sacrifice each and every day that I 499 00:22:22,829 --> 00:22:25,979 am lucky enough to see . And finally , 500 00:22:26,260 --> 00:22:29,109 as I always do , I ask that we never 501 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:31,849 forget our fallen and their families , 502 00:22:32,180 --> 00:22:34,380 especially those 13 fallen from 503 00:22:34,380 --> 00:22:37,380 Operation Epic Fury . May we always be 504 00:22:37,380 --> 00:22:39,459 worthy of their sacrifice and honor 505 00:22:39,459 --> 00:22:41,515 their legacy . And with that , sir , 506 00:22:41,515 --> 00:22:43,626 I'll turn it back over to you . Thank 507 00:22:43,626 --> 00:22:45,792 you , Mr . Chairman . We'll take a few 508 00:22:45,792 --> 00:22:47,959 questions . Uh , Alexandra Ingersoll , 509 00:22:47,959 --> 00:22:50,181 One America News , first of all , thank 510 00:22:50,181 --> 00:22:53,650 you to our troops . What role is our 511 00:22:53,650 --> 00:22:55,969 military playing in escorting vessels 512 00:22:55,969 --> 00:22:58,025 through the Strait of Hormuz at this 513 00:22:58,025 --> 00:23:00,569 point ? And the president said on True 514 00:23:00,569 --> 00:23:02,969 Social that the US will be hanging 515 00:23:02,969 --> 00:23:04,969 around to make sure everything goes 516 00:23:04,969 --> 00:23:07,191 well . Obviously , Mr . Secretary , you 517 00:23:07,191 --> 00:23:09,413 just mentioned , you know , we know the 518 00:23:09,413 --> 00:23:11,525 scars from hanging around in Iraq for 519 00:23:11,525 --> 00:23:14,569 decades , but what does that entail in 520 00:23:14,569 --> 00:23:16,736 terms of our military presence at this 521 00:23:16,736 --> 00:23:18,680 juncture ? Yeah , we'll be hanging 522 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:20,680 around . We're not going anywhere . 523 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:22,569 We're gonna make sure , uh , Iran 524 00:23:22,569 --> 00:23:24,680 complies with this ceasefire and then 525 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:26,902 ultimately comes to the table and makes 526 00:23:26,902 --> 00:23:29,236 a deal . Uh , so we'll , we'll stay put , 527 00:23:29,236 --> 00:23:31,125 stay ready , stay vigilant as the 528 00:23:31,125 --> 00:23:33,347 chairman laid out . Uh , our troops are 529 00:23:33,347 --> 00:23:35,513 prepared to defend , prepared to go on 530 00:23:35,513 --> 00:23:35,109 offense , prepared to restart at a 531 00:23:35,109 --> 00:23:37,165 moment's notice with whatever target 532 00:23:37,165 --> 00:23:39,390 package would be needed in order to 533 00:23:39,390 --> 00:23:41,612 comply , ensure that Iran complies . As 534 00:23:41,612 --> 00:23:43,910 far as the strait , uh , you saw the 535 00:23:43,910 --> 00:23:45,910 initial agreement that was struck , 536 00:23:45,910 --> 00:23:48,132 which is , uh , Iran's letting ships go 537 00:23:48,132 --> 00:23:50,299 through . So they'll be that that will 538 00:23:50,299 --> 00:23:52,521 be happening . They will be sailing and 539 00:23:52,521 --> 00:23:54,577 ultimately as , as the president , I 540 00:23:54,577 --> 00:23:56,854 mean we've done an incredible job , uh , 541 00:23:56,854 --> 00:23:59,132 militarily inside the Strait of Hormuz . 542 00:23:59,132 --> 00:24:01,021 What Admiral Cooper , I failed to 543 00:24:01,021 --> 00:24:03,077 mention Admiral Cooper's name , uh , 544 00:24:03,077 --> 00:24:05,188 he's done a phenomenal job along with 545 00:24:05,188 --> 00:24:07,188 everybody at AFcent and ABScent and 546 00:24:07,188 --> 00:24:09,410 Rcent and all , all the components down 547 00:24:09,410 --> 00:24:11,577 there laying the groundwork for , uh , 548 00:24:11,577 --> 00:24:11,390 Iran . Iran doesn't have the same 549 00:24:11,390 --> 00:24:13,501 ability to defend it the way they did 550 00:24:13,501 --> 00:24:15,557 before . And so as the president has 551 00:24:15,557 --> 00:24:17,723 pointed out to the rest of the world , 552 00:24:17,723 --> 00:24:17,349 uh , we , we barely get any of our 553 00:24:17,349 --> 00:24:19,516 energy out of the street . Just a tiny 554 00:24:19,516 --> 00:24:21,682 fraction , uh , it's time for the rest 555 00:24:21,682 --> 00:24:23,905 of the world to step up and ensure that 556 00:24:23,905 --> 00:24:26,016 that stays open after President Trump 557 00:24:26,016 --> 00:24:28,182 and the War Department brought Iran to 558 00:24:28,182 --> 00:24:30,182 the place where they're voluntarily 559 00:24:30,182 --> 00:24:31,905 opening it right now as it was 560 00:24:31,905 --> 00:24:33,960 announced last night . Yes , Jerry . 561 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:36,238 Thank you , Mr . Secretary , and thank , 562 00:24:36,238 --> 00:24:38,405 thank you both , uh , for the update . 563 00:24:38,405 --> 00:24:40,405 Uh , President Trump posted on True 564 00:24:40,405 --> 00:24:43,050 Social this morning that , uh , There 565 00:24:43,050 --> 00:24:44,939 has been a very productive regime 566 00:24:44,939 --> 00:24:47,161 change in Iran , and that there will be 567 00:24:47,161 --> 00:24:49,650 no enrichment of uranium , and the US 568 00:24:49,650 --> 00:24:51,969 will work with Iran to dig up and 569 00:24:51,969 --> 00:24:54,619 remove the deeply buried nuclear dust . 570 00:24:54,810 --> 00:24:57,609 So , I , I just have 22 questions here . 571 00:24:57,729 --> 00:25:00,189 So . Both you , Mr . Secretary , and 572 00:25:00,189 --> 00:25:02,245 the President have referred to a new 573 00:25:02,245 --> 00:25:05,729 regime in Iran . So is this Not the 574 00:25:05,729 --> 00:25:08,500 regime that was at war with us for 47 575 00:25:08,500 --> 00:25:11,439 years . And how do we , what do we 576 00:25:11,439 --> 00:25:13,661 think of when we're saying that this is 577 00:25:13,661 --> 00:25:15,883 a new regime ? What are we thinking and 578 00:25:15,883 --> 00:25:18,050 what are we saying there ? And then my 579 00:25:18,050 --> 00:25:20,106 second question is , with any future 580 00:25:20,106 --> 00:25:23,300 deal with Iran , is their handing over 581 00:25:23,300 --> 00:25:25,979 of all of their enriched uranium and 582 00:25:25,979 --> 00:25:27,979 they're promising not to enrich any 583 00:25:27,979 --> 00:25:30,380 future uranium a non-negotiable for the 584 00:25:30,380 --> 00:25:32,102 US ? Well , it's always been . 585 00:25:32,180 --> 00:25:34,180 Non-negotiable that they won't have 586 00:25:34,180 --> 00:25:36,291 nuclear capabilities and so right now 587 00:25:36,291 --> 00:25:38,458 it's buried and we're watching it . We 588 00:25:38,458 --> 00:25:40,624 know exactly what they have , uh , and 589 00:25:40,624 --> 00:25:42,624 they know that and they will either 590 00:25:42,624 --> 00:25:44,847 give it to us , which the president has 591 00:25:44,847 --> 00:25:44,500 laid out , we'll , they'll give it to 592 00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:46,611 us voluntarily . We'll get it , we'll 593 00:25:46,611 --> 00:25:48,722 take it , we'll take it out . Uh , or 594 00:25:48,722 --> 00:25:50,500 if we have to do something else 595 00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:50,060 ourselves like we did in Midnight 596 00:25:50,060 --> 00:25:52,282 Hammer or something like that , we , we 597 00:25:52,282 --> 00:25:54,393 reserve that opportunity . But what's 598 00:25:54,393 --> 00:25:56,338 clear , what the Iranian , the new 599 00:25:56,338 --> 00:25:58,449 Iranian regime knows is they'll never 600 00:25:58,449 --> 00:26:00,671 have a nuclear weapon or the capability 601 00:26:00,671 --> 00:26:02,727 to get a path to one . As far as the 602 00:26:02,727 --> 00:26:04,838 new regime , you , you heard the list 603 00:26:04,838 --> 00:26:06,727 that I read . It's a new group of 604 00:26:06,727 --> 00:26:08,393 people . Who've seen the full 605 00:26:08,393 --> 00:26:10,171 capability of the United States 606 00:26:10,171 --> 00:26:12,282 military and has a new calculus about 607 00:26:12,282 --> 00:26:14,616 what it means to negotiate with us , uh , 608 00:26:14,616 --> 00:26:16,449 hence why they came to the table 609 00:26:16,689 --> 00:26:18,911 wanting a ceasefire and the shooting to 610 00:26:18,911 --> 00:26:21,022 stop . So this new regime , which the 611 00:26:21,022 --> 00:26:23,078 regime has been changed , uh , has a 612 00:26:23,078 --> 00:26:25,329 different interaction with the US right 613 00:26:25,329 --> 00:26:27,607 here , Mr . Secretary , thank you . Uh , 614 00:26:27,607 --> 00:26:29,662 of course I was going in front right 615 00:26:29,662 --> 00:26:31,885 here . Thank you , Mr . Secretary , and 616 00:26:31,885 --> 00:26:31,729 General Kane . Uh , Mary Margaret with 617 00:26:31,729 --> 00:26:34,900 the Daily Wire , two questions . Iran 618 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:37,067 has said that safe passage through the 619 00:26:37,067 --> 00:26:39,150 Strait of Hormuz will be possible in 620 00:26:39,150 --> 00:26:41,261 coordination with Iran's armed forces 621 00:26:41,261 --> 00:26:43,483 and technical limitations . What do you 622 00:26:43,483 --> 00:26:45,483 believe that means ? And then we've 623 00:26:45,483 --> 00:26:47,317 also heard reports that Iran has 624 00:26:47,317 --> 00:26:49,372 continued striking targets well into 625 00:26:49,372 --> 00:26:51,372 this morning . At what point are we 626 00:26:51,372 --> 00:26:53,483 beyond a grace period ? Are we giving 627 00:26:53,483 --> 00:26:55,317 them a grace period ? Is there a 628 00:26:55,317 --> 00:26:55,310 miscommunication there ? What's going 629 00:26:55,310 --> 00:26:57,859 on with that ? What we know is that 630 00:26:58,130 --> 00:27:00,241 Iran is gonna say a lot of things . A 631 00:27:00,241 --> 00:27:02,297 lot of people are gonna say a lot of 632 00:27:02,297 --> 00:27:04,408 things , claim a lot of things . What 633 00:27:04,408 --> 00:27:04,130 has been agreed to , what's been stated 634 00:27:04,130 --> 00:27:06,050 is the strait is open . Uh , our 635 00:27:06,050 --> 00:27:08,161 military is watching . I'm sure their 636 00:27:08,161 --> 00:27:10,161 military is watching , but commerce 637 00:27:10,161 --> 00:27:12,217 will flow , uh , and that's what you 638 00:27:12,217 --> 00:27:11,880 saw the markets react to is that 639 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,839 reality , um , as far as shooting that , 640 00:27:14,849 --> 00:27:16,960 we , we were monitoring it last night 641 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,127 in real time , of course we are . Iran 642 00:27:19,127 --> 00:27:22,500 would be wise to find a way to get the 643 00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:25,060 carrier pigeon to their troops out in 644 00:27:25,060 --> 00:27:27,739 remote locations to know not to shoot , 645 00:27:28,079 --> 00:27:29,968 not to shoot any longer , one-way 646 00:27:29,968 --> 00:27:32,380 attacks or missiles because this takes 647 00:27:32,380 --> 00:27:34,491 time sometimes for ceasefires to take 648 00:27:34,491 --> 00:27:36,436 hold . We're watching it . We're , 649 00:27:36,436 --> 00:27:38,602 we're prepared if necessary , but we , 650 00:27:38,602 --> 00:27:40,547 we , we , we hope and believe that 651 00:27:40,547 --> 00:27:42,269 it'll hold . Yes , thank you , 652 00:27:42,269 --> 00:27:44,436 Secretary Hudson . Sorry . Excuse me , 653 00:27:44,436 --> 00:27:46,547 why are you so rude ? Just wait . I'm 654 00:27:46,547 --> 00:27:48,324 calling on people . Thank you , 655 00:27:48,324 --> 00:27:49,936 Secretary . Yesterday in the 656 00:27:49,936 --> 00:27:51,602 President's Truth Social , he 657 00:27:51,602 --> 00:27:53,824 threatened to wipe out a civilization . 658 00:27:54,069 --> 00:27:56,910 That statement elicited a huge response 659 00:27:56,910 --> 00:28:00,000 in America . If Iran did not come to 660 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,167 the table and make a deal yesterday by 661 00:28:02,167 --> 00:28:04,389 the deadline , was the president really 662 00:28:04,389 --> 00:28:06,444 prepared to wipe out Iran entirely ? 663 00:28:07,349 --> 00:28:09,238 Like I said , we had a target set 664 00:28:09,238 --> 00:28:11,349 locked and loaded of infrastructure , 665 00:28:11,589 --> 00:28:13,756 bridges , power plants . Remember this 666 00:28:13,756 --> 00:28:15,645 is a terror regime . The military 667 00:28:15,645 --> 00:28:17,645 regime used all of these things for 668 00:28:17,645 --> 00:28:19,700 dual use to fund their military , to 669 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:21,811 fund their , their terror campaigns . 670 00:28:21,811 --> 00:28:21,339 We had a lot of legitimate targets . 671 00:28:21,630 --> 00:28:23,797 They knew exactly the scope of what we 672 00:28:23,797 --> 00:28:25,963 were capable of . We hit some military 673 00:28:25,963 --> 00:28:28,019 targets on KAG , which is a bit of a 674 00:28:28,019 --> 00:28:30,074 signal . Uh , they can't defend it . 675 00:28:30,074 --> 00:28:32,229 And so the Iran ultimately understood 676 00:28:32,229 --> 00:28:34,760 their ability , their future . To 677 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,400 produce , to generate power , uh , to 678 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,760 fuel their terrorist regime was in our 679 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:42,099 hands , was in President Trump's hands . 680 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:44,567 That's why they came to the table . He 681 00:28:44,567 --> 00:28:46,819 ultimately said , we can take it all 682 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:48,930 from you . Your ability to export 683 00:28:48,930 --> 00:28:50,930 energy will be taken away , and the 684 00:28:50,930 --> 00:28:53,097 United States military has the ability 685 00:28:53,097 --> 00:28:55,263 to strike those things with impunity . 686 00:28:55,263 --> 00:28:57,263 That type of threat is what brought 687 00:28:57,263 --> 00:28:58,874 them to the place where they 688 00:28:58,874 --> 00:29:00,930 effectively say , hey , OK , we , we 689 00:29:00,930 --> 00:29:02,930 want to cut this deal . Yes , right 690 00:29:02,930 --> 00:29:05,097 here . Good morning , Mr . Secretary , 691 00:29:05,097 --> 00:29:07,263 Mr . Chairman David Z , Real America's 692 00:29:07,263 --> 00:29:09,541 Voice . Um , during the ceasefire , um , 693 00:29:09,541 --> 00:29:12,150 what do we do when we see , uh , Iran 694 00:29:12,270 --> 00:29:15,209 rearming , regrouping , repositioning 695 00:29:15,209 --> 00:29:17,729 weapons systems and air defenses , um , 696 00:29:17,849 --> 00:29:19,770 and also , have we confirmed the 697 00:29:19,770 --> 00:29:21,939 specific model type of air defense or 698 00:29:21,939 --> 00:29:24,890 MANPADS that took down our F-15 , and 699 00:29:24,890 --> 00:29:27,750 is it still a threat for our patrols ? 700 00:29:28,699 --> 00:29:30,532 Uh , we're , we're still working 701 00:29:30,532 --> 00:29:32,939 through the , the , uh , specific 702 00:29:32,939 --> 00:29:35,180 details around that particular 703 00:29:35,180 --> 00:29:38,219 shootdown . Um , and the crews , when 704 00:29:38,219 --> 00:29:40,219 they normally return , go through a 705 00:29:40,219 --> 00:29:42,441 debriefing process along with the other 706 00:29:42,441 --> 00:29:44,497 members of that flight that were out 707 00:29:44,497 --> 00:29:46,650 there . And they'll go back as they 708 00:29:46,650 --> 00:29:48,939 always do and forensically look at what 709 00:29:48,939 --> 00:29:51,106 are the tactical lessons learned . Did 710 00:29:51,106 --> 00:29:53,161 we sense or see something ? Could we 711 00:29:53,161 --> 00:29:55,272 have done something different ? We do 712 00:29:55,272 --> 00:29:57,439 that , as I mentioned in a prior press 713 00:29:57,439 --> 00:29:59,606 conference , every single time we take 714 00:29:59,606 --> 00:30:02,339 any loss like that so that we become a 715 00:30:02,339 --> 00:30:05,290 quick learning organization . On the 716 00:30:05,290 --> 00:30:07,579 other part of your question around the 717 00:30:07,579 --> 00:30:09,900 movement of Iranian military forces , 718 00:30:10,420 --> 00:30:12,739 US CENTCOM will continue to monitor 719 00:30:12,739 --> 00:30:15,229 that situation . They will continue to 720 00:30:15,229 --> 00:30:18,869 have a series of response options and 721 00:30:18,869 --> 00:30:21,390 if need be will come to the secretary 722 00:30:21,390 --> 00:30:23,501 and to the president for guidance and 723 00:30:23,501 --> 00:30:25,989 be prepared to do the things that 724 00:30:25,989 --> 00:30:28,156 they're ordered to do so against valid 725 00:30:28,156 --> 00:30:30,589 military targets in accordance with the 726 00:30:30,589 --> 00:30:32,533 normal procedures that we have . I 727 00:30:32,533 --> 00:30:34,910 would just note it's a good question . 728 00:30:35,150 --> 00:30:37,589 The more Iran moves , the more Iran 729 00:30:37,589 --> 00:30:39,660 moves forces , the more they emplace 730 00:30:39,660 --> 00:30:41,790 forces , the more easily targetable . 731 00:30:42,130 --> 00:30:44,297 They are for us right now . Remember , 732 00:30:44,297 --> 00:30:46,352 we , we , we're able to look , we're 733 00:30:46,352 --> 00:30:48,519 able to see , we're able to sense . We 734 00:30:48,519 --> 00:30:50,630 know they where they , so if they try 735 00:30:50,630 --> 00:30:50,109 to preposition , they're just creating 736 00:30:50,439 --> 00:30:52,729 riper military targets for us to strike 737 00:30:52,729 --> 00:30:54,896 should they make the wrong decision at 738 00:30:54,896 --> 00:30:56,729 the table right here . Um , Mr . 739 00:30:56,849 --> 00:30:59,127 Secretary Louis Martinez with ABC News . 740 00:30:59,127 --> 00:31:01,460 Uh , first , a question to General Kane , 741 00:31:01,460 --> 00:31:03,571 sir . Um , in your personal opinion , 742 00:31:03,571 --> 00:31:05,516 were the risks of the 3 of 4 moves 743 00:31:05,516 --> 00:31:07,460 being . Uh , closed because of the 744 00:31:07,460 --> 00:31:09,516 conflict , were they mitigated early 745 00:31:09,516 --> 00:31:11,627 enough , uh , in part of the decision 746 00:31:11,627 --> 00:31:13,849 making process , uh , to lead up to the 747 00:31:13,849 --> 00:31:16,016 decision to take , take action against 748 00:31:16,016 --> 00:31:18,479 Iran . And in your opinion , is Iran in 749 00:31:18,479 --> 00:31:20,701 control of the Strait of Hormuz we just 750 00:31:20,701 --> 00:31:22,757 heard the Secretary say that Iran is 751 00:31:22,757 --> 00:31:24,646 letting , uh , letting them ships 752 00:31:24,646 --> 00:31:26,479 through , which would imply that 753 00:31:26,479 --> 00:31:28,800 potentially it's not just , um , the 754 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:31,130 secretary also said that , uh , the US , 755 00:31:31,319 --> 00:31:33,430 um , that the strait is open . He did 756 00:31:33,430 --> 00:31:35,319 say that , sir , um , but in your 757 00:31:35,319 --> 00:31:38,579 opinion , sir , uh , how can the US 758 00:31:38,579 --> 00:31:40,819 ensure safe passage , Mr . Secretary , 759 00:31:41,150 --> 00:31:44,400 um . Can you say today that the United 760 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,344 States achieved the administration 761 00:31:46,344 --> 00:31:48,680 achieved the military goals that you , 762 00:31:49,579 --> 00:31:52,459 you've constantly delineated , um , and 763 00:31:52,459 --> 00:31:55,800 but strategically is that a victory 764 00:31:56,660 --> 00:31:58,660 because of that ? And also you said 765 00:31:58,660 --> 00:32:00,938 earlier that the president chose mercy , 766 00:32:00,979 --> 00:32:03,035 um , but you yourself had said three 767 00:32:03,035 --> 00:32:05,312 weeks ago that we will give no quarter , 768 00:32:05,312 --> 00:32:08,420 no quarter to Iranian troops . How do 769 00:32:08,420 --> 00:32:10,900 you , um , how do you correlate those 770 00:32:10,900 --> 00:32:12,880 two ? And do you think that your 771 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:14,991 comments may have put American troops 772 00:32:14,991 --> 00:32:17,459 at risk ? No , uh , I , I try to be , 773 00:32:17,719 --> 00:32:20,699 um . Nice up here , but you did listen 774 00:32:20,699 --> 00:32:22,921 to what I said , right ? I laid out the 775 00:32:22,921 --> 00:32:24,477 objectives we believe we've 776 00:32:24,477 --> 00:32:26,699 accomplished them , and it's a historic 777 00:32:26,699 --> 00:32:28,810 military victory , uh , and President 778 00:32:28,810 --> 00:32:30,921 Trump has the option as the commander 779 00:32:30,921 --> 00:32:33,088 in chief to compel an adversary to the 780 00:32:33,088 --> 00:32:35,366 table , which is precisely what he did . 781 00:32:35,366 --> 00:32:37,421 And at the end he chose to say , you 782 00:32:37,421 --> 00:32:36,380 know what , I'd rather talk to you at 783 00:32:36,380 --> 00:32:38,500 the table than obliterate your 784 00:32:38,500 --> 00:32:40,900 capability to export oil and fund your 785 00:32:40,900 --> 00:32:42,900 terror regime . Uh , so he did make 786 00:32:42,900 --> 00:32:45,067 that choice . That was his choice . He 787 00:32:45,067 --> 00:32:47,067 was a president of peace , uh , and 788 00:32:47,067 --> 00:32:49,233 he's been willing to make those really 789 00:32:49,233 --> 00:32:51,289 tough calls that the American people 790 00:32:51,289 --> 00:32:53,567 elected him to do . Nothing we've done , 791 00:32:53,567 --> 00:32:55,789 not a single thing we've done . This is 792 00:32:55,789 --> 00:32:57,956 a typical , of course it's ABC , not a 793 00:32:57,956 --> 00:32:59,900 single thing we've done has put an 794 00:32:59,900 --> 00:33:02,178 American troop in more of a harm's way . 795 00:33:02,178 --> 00:33:04,233 We've only set our troops up to harm 796 00:33:04,233 --> 00:33:06,344 Iranian military capabilities , which 797 00:33:06,344 --> 00:33:08,456 they've done to devastating fashion , 798 00:33:08,459 --> 00:33:10,292 uh , and to great success , Mr . 799 00:33:10,292 --> 00:33:12,403 Chairman , you had a there's a lot in 800 00:33:12,403 --> 00:33:14,515 that question . Um , I'd love to take 801 00:33:14,515 --> 00:33:16,910 that offline and answer it , but it was , 802 00:33:16,989 --> 00:33:19,211 I , I'm struggling to find exactly what 803 00:33:19,211 --> 00:33:21,433 your question was , and that's probably 804 00:33:21,433 --> 00:33:23,545 me , not you . OK . All right , sorry 805 00:33:23,545 --> 00:33:25,545 about that . It's sorry , it was an 806 00:33:25,545 --> 00:33:27,600 indictment framed as a question , so 807 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,822 you're forgiven for not understanding . 808 00:33:29,822 --> 00:33:31,711 Go ahead , please . No , you've , 809 00:33:31,711 --> 00:33:31,314 you've had your chance . Go ahead . 810 00:33:32,885 --> 00:33:34,829 Thank you very much . I believe so 811 00:33:34,829 --> 00:33:36,996 based on the diplomatic negotiations . 812 00:33:36,996 --> 00:33:39,464 I believe so . I believe so . Sorry , 813 00:33:39,645 --> 00:33:41,604 Mr . Kurd or Rahim Rashidi from 814 00:33:41,604 --> 00:33:43,505 Kurdistan . I'm representative 815 00:33:43,505 --> 00:33:46,785 Kurdistan TV and Kurdistan 24 today . 816 00:33:47,405 --> 00:33:50,839 I have a 2 . Questions . 817 00:33:51,439 --> 00:33:54,540 Mr . Secretary , will your forces stay 818 00:33:54,719 --> 00:33:58,160 in the region and continue to defend 819 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,439 and protect your allies and take the 820 00:34:01,439 --> 00:34:04,119 responsibility for their security ? 821 00:34:04,930 --> 00:34:07,709 Second question is , as you mentioned . 822 00:34:09,428 --> 00:34:12,569 Many times that you have full control 823 00:34:12,569 --> 00:34:16,029 of Iran airspace . Do you still have 824 00:34:16,029 --> 00:34:18,959 this control or not ? Well , thank you , 825 00:34:18,969 --> 00:34:21,025 uh , for the question . The chairman 826 00:34:21,025 --> 00:34:23,358 mentioned the UAE and Bahrain and Qatar , 827 00:34:23,358 --> 00:34:26,030 Saudi Arabia , uh , Kuwait , uh , who 828 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:27,974 have , who have fought shoulder to 829 00:34:27,974 --> 00:34:29,949 shoulder with us , especially in 830 00:34:29,949 --> 00:34:31,893 defense of our facilities , of our 831 00:34:31,893 --> 00:34:34,116 people , of , of their facilities , and 832 00:34:34,116 --> 00:34:34,020 we appreciate that . So that 833 00:34:34,020 --> 00:34:36,076 coordination , of course , uh , will 834 00:34:36,076 --> 00:34:38,131 continue . And then when it comes to 835 00:34:38,131 --> 00:34:40,076 the skies over Iran , I would just 836 00:34:40,076 --> 00:34:42,242 again , I would point to exhibit A and 837 00:34:42,242 --> 00:34:44,464 exhibit B . Uh , 7 hours in the day , 7 838 00:34:44,464 --> 00:34:46,631 hours at night , um , if , if , if any 839 00:34:46,631 --> 00:34:48,742 foreign adversary attempted to do the 840 00:34:48,742 --> 00:34:50,909 same over our soil , they would have , 841 00:34:50,909 --> 00:34:52,964 uh , no ability to do so . Uh , do , 842 00:34:52,964 --> 00:34:55,187 will they have a system here or there ? 843 00:34:55,187 --> 00:34:57,340 Maybe . Do they have a network , a 844 00:34:57,340 --> 00:34:59,284 system that's capable of defending 845 00:34:59,284 --> 00:35:01,451 their skies ? No , they don't . It's , 846 00:35:01,451 --> 00:35:03,618 as the chairman laid out , that that's 847 00:35:03,618 --> 00:35:05,451 been dismantled , degraded , and 848 00:35:05,451 --> 00:35:07,673 destroyed . So , uh , it's a , it's a , 849 00:35:07,673 --> 00:35:09,507 it's a slight distinction but an 850 00:35:09,507 --> 00:35:11,618 important one . Yes , right here . Go 851 00:35:11,618 --> 00:35:13,729 ahead in the middle of a war . Excuse 852 00:35:13,729 --> 00:35:13,610 me , you got a question . Go ahead . 853 00:35:13,959 --> 00:35:16,399 Yes , yes , two questions actually for 854 00:35:16,399 --> 00:35:19,050 you . So during this time , is the 855 00:35:19,050 --> 00:35:20,828 president still , are you still 856 00:35:20,828 --> 00:35:23,929 encouraging civilians to rise up 857 00:35:23,929 --> 00:35:26,096 against the regime , or are they , are 858 00:35:26,096 --> 00:35:28,096 they satisfied with this new regime 859 00:35:28,096 --> 00:35:30,262 change , or they , or is this two week 860 00:35:30,262 --> 00:35:32,318 period ? Period to kind of see where 861 00:35:32,318 --> 00:35:34,262 that leads . Also talked about the 862 00:35:34,262 --> 00:35:36,485 enriched uranium going in there . Would 863 00:35:36,485 --> 00:35:38,373 that require , would that require 864 00:35:38,373 --> 00:35:40,540 special forces or other military , our 865 00:35:40,540 --> 00:35:42,485 service members who would that who 866 00:35:42,485 --> 00:35:44,596 would who would be basically going in 867 00:35:44,596 --> 00:35:46,762 there and trusted to going in there to 868 00:35:46,762 --> 00:35:48,689 get that uranium out again on the 869 00:35:48,689 --> 00:35:50,689 uranium we're watching it . We know 870 00:35:50,689 --> 00:35:52,856 what they have and . They will give it 871 00:35:52,856 --> 00:35:54,967 up and we'll get it and we'll take it 872 00:35:54,967 --> 00:35:57,022 if we have to , we , we can do it in 873 00:35:57,022 --> 00:35:59,133 any , any means necessary . So that's 874 00:35:59,133 --> 00:36:01,133 something the president is going to 875 00:36:01,133 --> 00:36:03,189 solve for . We already have Midnight 876 00:36:03,189 --> 00:36:05,411 Hammer with where with the place we put 877 00:36:05,411 --> 00:36:07,356 them in and the reason it's in the 878 00:36:07,356 --> 00:36:09,578 situation where it is . Uh , the second 879 00:36:09,578 --> 00:36:11,800 one was about the people . Listen , I , 880 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:11,800 I would love to see the Iranian people 881 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:13,856 take advantage of this opportunity . 882 00:36:14,199 --> 00:36:15,977 They have been oppressed by the 883 00:36:15,977 --> 00:36:18,520 previous regime and they'll have a new 884 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:21,120 opportunity with this regime that 885 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:23,231 remains to be seen . That was not our 886 00:36:23,231 --> 00:36:25,398 objective in this effort , but they're 887 00:36:25,398 --> 00:36:27,398 brave people . Horrible things have 888 00:36:27,398 --> 00:36:29,287 been done to them by the previous 889 00:36:29,287 --> 00:36:31,509 regime . Tens of thousands targeted and 890 00:36:31,509 --> 00:36:33,564 killed and assassinated in a way the 891 00:36:33,564 --> 00:36:35,676 government never should , and we wish 892 00:36:35,676 --> 00:36:34,760 them the best . Absolutely . Thank you 893 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:36,040 all very much . Appreciate it .