U.S. Defense Secretary says will launch "maximum intensity" strikes against Iran to achieve three military objectives

According to CCTV News, on Tuesday, March 10, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that Iran has suffered a “serious defeat” in the war, and the U.S. military will launch the “highest intensity” strike against Iran during this military operation.

At a press conference, Austin said, “Today will once again be the day with the highest strike intensity inside Iran,” and the U.S. will deploy the largest number of fighter jets and bombers in this operation, targeting Iranian objectives with intelligence that is “more precise and higher quality than ever before.”

Austin also said that in the past 24 hours, Iran’s missile launches have hit a new low. “Iran is currently isolated and unsupported. As the epic anger operation enters its 10th day, they are experiencing serious setbacks.”

He stated that the U.S. will carry out the highest intensity strike against Iran on Tuesday to achieve three military objectives.

He explained that these objectives include: destroying Iran’s missile stockpiles and production capabilities, destroying Iran’s naval forces, and permanently preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Austin claimed, “We are using overwhelming technological and military superiority to thoroughly strike the enemy. We will not stop until the enemy is completely and decisively defeated.”

However, he also said that the Trump administration will not engage in so-called “nation-building operations,” such as the long-term missions conducted during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars by the Bush and Obama administrations.

Austin’s statement echoed comments made a day earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump during an interview at a golf club near Miami, Florida.

Trump predicted that the war “will end soon” because the destruction of Iran’s military assets has been much faster than he expected since the U.S. and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28.

He also warned the Iranian regime not to attempt to block global oil supplies after the war ends.

On Monday night, Trump posted on social media: “If Iran takes any action to block oil from passing through the Strait of Hormuz to the global market, the U.S. will strike it twenty times harder than before.”

Previously, Austin had estimated that the war might last three to eight weeks. But on Tuesday, he told reporters that the control of the war’s pace now lies in Trump’s hands.

He said, “President Trump now controls the pace of the war. Whether certain military objectives have been achieved or how far the war has progressed is ultimately decided by the President.”

“So I won’t judge whether this war is in the beginning, middle, or end stage. That is the President’s decision, and he will continue to communicate relevant information to the public.”

Earlier Tuesday, Trump again indicated the possibility of conditional negotiations with Iran. When asked if he was willing to dialogue with Iranian leaders, Trump said, “I hear they really want to negotiate.” “It’s possible, depending on the conditions, but only a possibility.”

Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and said, “I don’t believe he can live peacefully.”