🎙 Pentagon chief faces fierce Senate grilling over Iran war 📌 New York, IRNA – US Secretary of War P...

🎙 Pentagon chief faces fierce Senate grilling over Iran war 📌 New York, IRNA – US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has faced a heated confrontation with senators during a Senate hearing over the Trump administration’s war against Iran, as lawmakers questioned the rationale for continuing the conflict and challenged Washington’s strategy toward Tehran while seeking billions of dollars in additional funding. During Tuesday’s hearing, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York pressed Hegseth over the administration’s justification for the war and challenged his previous statements about Iran’s nuclear program. ​ “The words you have used in the past don’t add up…you said that we have obliterated ‘Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons.’ The president made the same claim. Yet, eight months later in February 2026, the president launched an active war, claiming Iran was within two weeks of having a weapon,” Gillibrand said. ​ Hegseth responded that the Iranian nuclear facilities targeted in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025 had been “completely destroyed,” but claimed that Iran had “foolishly” continued efforts to develop nuclear capabilities. ​ Gillibrand also accused Hegseth of misleading the public about the destruction of Iran’s missile-launch capabilities. Hegseth, in response, accused the senator of trying to use the issue for “campaign propaganda.” ​ In another heated exchange, Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan sharply criticized the Trump administration for having no “clear winning strategy” that could plunge the United States into another “forever war”, putting American troops at risk and costing taxpayers billions of dollars. ​ Peters then questioned what the administration had achieved since the conflict began and challenged Hegseth’s request for additional funding for the Pentagon, saying it had been made despite your “failure to win this war.” ​ Hegseth responded angrily, accusing Peters of insulting US service members. ​ “I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless, and I think it’s irresponsible,” Hegseth said, arguing that such comments undermined the sacrifices of troops working to ensure that Iran never obtains what he described as a nuclear weapon. ​ Peters responded, saying, “Because I use the word ‘failure’ to their leaders. You sir, are the failure, not the men and women who are on that front line, not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction, but if there’s a lack of a winning strategy, they’re in harm’s way,” according to the Hill. “You don’t have a long-term plan to actually win this war,” he added. ​ Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who is the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, also described the cost of the war with Iran as “catastrophic.” She challenged the administration’s claims that Iran’s missile capabilities have been destroyed, saying Iran is currently firing missiles at US assets. ​ Hegseth maintained that Iran was at its weakest militarily but acknowledged that it still retained capabilities. He said President Donald Trump had promised that the US would no longer fight “stupid wars” and claimed the administration was following a “realistic, America First” policy aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. ​ The Secretary of War was quizzed by senators as the White House has requested nearly $70 billion in additional funding for the war with Iran. During the hearing, Hegseth revealed that the war has cost $37.5 billion so far. 📲 ​