Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Operation Epic Fury against Iran is not aimed at building democracy, but at combating nuclear threats.

At his first press conference following the launch of the Epic Fury Operation, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized that the war in Iran is not a "democracy-building exercise." Hegseth criticized traditional rules of engagement and stated that the United States no longer wishes to engage in nation-building.

He accused Iran of developing missiles and drones to enhance its nuclear threat and reiterated that U.S. attacks in June 2025 destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities. Hegseth denounced the Tehran regime as expansionist and Islamist, evoking proxy violence in the region. He also defended the decision to attack Iran, stating that the Iranian government refused to negotiate seriously, preferring to stall.