US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a sharp attack on media coverage of the ongoing war against Iran during a Pentagon briefing on Thursday, accusing journalists of focusing exclusively on negative narratives while ignoring what he called a "historic success" by American forces. Speaking directly to reporters, he said: "You only seek the negative," contrasting what he described as an overly critical press with an American public that, in his view, "see the success, see the reality, and don't demand perfection."
However, Hegseth's claims of broad public support appear to overstate the reality. A recent AP-NORC poll found that nearly 60% of Americans believe US military action in Iran has been excessive, and 45% expressed serious concern about their ability to afford fuel in the coming months — a sign that the economic ripple effects of the conflict are weighing on public opinion.
Beyond the media dispute, Hegseth used the briefing to press a detailed military case against Tehran. He said Iran is moving its remaining military assets but is unable to replenish or rebuild its defence capabilities almost seven weeks into the war. "You can move things around, but you can't actually rebuild," he said, addressing Iran's leadership directly and warning that US forces remain "locked and loaded" on Iranian infrastructure, power generation, and energy industry targets. He added that the conflict is "not a fair fight" given American military superiority.
On the naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastline, Hegseth and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined the scale of the operation. Hegseth noted that the US Navy is deploying fewer than 10% of its roughly 300 warships — currently 16 vessels, including an aircraft carrier and 11 destroyers — to enforce the blockade, while Iran has no functional navy remaining. Caine said more than 10,000 sailors, marines, and airmen are involved, and that US forces will pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any ship attempting to supply Iran, anywhere in the world. So far, no ships have been boarded; 13 vessels have turned back after receiving warnings.
The briefing comes as a short-term ceasefire between the US and Iran is reportedly set to expire within a week, with diplomats already laying groundwork for new talks. The combination of military pressure, economic blockade, and now a public dispute over the war's narrative underscores how contested the conflict remains — both on the ground and in the court of public opinion.