Key facts
- During a 9/11 commemoration at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the U.S. has killed Iranian leaders and destroyed Iran's air force and defenses.
- Hegseth stated that the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz and that economic pressure on Iran is tightening.
- President Donald Trump vowed that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon.
- Hegseth described the U.S. war in Iran as a "gift to the world" and vowed to continue the blockade of Iranian shipping.
- Hegseth criticized European allies for not contributing forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
During a 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump used the event to advocate for a more aggressive stance against Iran. Hegseth detailed alleged successes in the ongoing military campaign against Iran, stating that the U.S. has killed Iranian leaders, destroyed the country's air force, and eliminated its defenses.
Hegseth also asserted that economic pressure on Iran is tightening daily and that the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to "finish this fight." He further described the U.S. war in Iran as a "gift to the world" and stated that the blockade of Iranian shipping would continue "as long as it takes." Hegseth criticized European allies for not contributing their own forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting they were "free-riding."
Trump, while largely focusing on the victims of the 9/11 attacks and national unity, also recognized U.S. troops and reiterated a commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He stated, "We salute the service members working right now to ensure the world’s number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon."
Americans marked the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with solemn ceremonies across the country. At the Pentagon, 184 service members and civilians were honored. In New York, loved ones of the nearly 3,000 victims gathered at Ground Zero. The remembrances occurred amid increased political tensions, including the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.