Trump doubles down: president announces new wave of attacks and promises to “totally destroy” Iran’s regime

The United States stated this Friday (13) that it intends to completely destroy Iran’s defense industrial base, while expanding the military campaign carried out with Israel’s support in the country. The statements were made at different times by President Donald Trump and American Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said that Iranian military capabilities are being systematically eliminated.

“All of Iran’s defense companies will soon be destroyed,” Hegseth said during a press conference at the Pentagon.

According to the secretary, the military offensive has already severely compromised the country’s ability to produce strategic weapons. “Iran’s missiles and launchers are constantly being destroyed,” he said. “Iran no longer has the ability to build more missiles or launchers.”

The statements come on the 14th day of the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, marked by daily air strikes against military installations, strategic infrastructure and bases linked to the Iranian weapons program.

According to the Pentagon, American and Israeli forces have already struck more than 15,000 targets in Iranian territory since the start of the offensive.

Hegseth stated that the operation’s central objective is to destroy the country’s military industrial base and weaken the regime’s political leadership. According to him, Iranian leaders were in hiding to avoid attacks. “Iran’s leaders have disappeared. They are all hiding in bunkers,” he said.

The secretary also commented on the health status of the new Iranian supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who took office after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an attack that occurred at the beginning of the conflict.

According to Hegseth, the new leader would be injured and in a vulnerable situation. “He is hiding, scared and hurt,” he said.

At another point in the press conference, the secretary said that Khamenei’s recently released statement was weak and raised doubts about his physical condition. “Yesterday he released a statement, which was actually quite weak, there was no audio or video,” he said.

In parallel with the Pentagon’s statements, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that the country is “totally destroying” the Iranian regime.

“We are completely destroying the terrorist regime in Iran — militarily, economically and otherwise,” Trump said in a social media post overnight.

The president also stated that Iranian forces are being quickly neutralized. “Iran’s Navy is gone, its Air Force is no more; missiles, drones and everything else is being decimated, and its leaders have been wiped off the face of the Earth,” he wrote.

Trump also promised new attacks this Friday. “We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition and plenty of time — look what will happen to these unhinged scoundrels today,” he said.

In the same statement, the president said he considered it a “great honor” to kill members of the Iranian leadership. “They have been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th president of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so!”

In addition to direct attacks against the country’s military infrastructure, American officials say the operations also seek to ensure the security of strategic maritime routes in the Middle East. The chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, said that American forces continue to act to prevent Iran from threatening commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important routes for global oil trade.

According to him, the US Central Command (CentCom) continues to attack Iranian structures that could be used to install sea mines or carry out attacks against vessels. “Iran still has the capacity to harm allied forces and commercial shipping,” he said.

American authorities indicated that the strait remains open for navigation, despite recent episodes of tension in the region.

The secretary added that strategic decisions about the war are made directly by the president of the United States. “Trump is the one who determines the duration, objectives and tactics of the conflict with Iran,” he said.

Hegseth also confirmed that the attacks are expected to intensify in the coming hours. “We will continue to advance with our operation in Iran,” he declared. “Today we will have the highest volume of US airstrikes to date.”