U.S. Defense Secretary Says Iran Campaign Is Not About “Regime Change,

U.S. Defense Secretary Says Iran Campaign Is Not About “Regime Change,” Distinguishes It From Iraq War

WASHINGTON U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday forcefully rejected the idea that Washington’s expanding military campaign against Iran is intended to overthrow the country’s government, while also insisting the conflict will not turn into an open-ended war like the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing alongside military leadership, Hegseth emphasized that the United States and its partners are pursuing specific strategic objectives destroying Iran’s missile systems, neutralizing its navy and ensuring Tehran never develops a nuclear weapon rather than seeking to reshape Iran’s internal politics.“This is not a so-called regime change war,” Hegseth said, adding that although Iran’s leadership has changed as a result of recent strikes, the United States is not waging war to install a new government. “The world is better off for it,” he added, framing the outcome as an unintended consequence rather than an objective. Hegseth also sought to draw a clear line between U.S. policy now and the protracted conflict in Iraq two decades ago, asserting this campaign has focused military power on clearly defined threats without involving nation-building or “endless” ground operations. “We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives,” he said, rejecting concerns that the United States might be drawn into a long, open-ended engagement similar to past Middle East wars.The Pentagon chief’s comments come amid sharp debate in Washington over the scope and goals of the U.S.-led strikes, which followed coordinated action with Israeli forces and have drawn retaliatory attacks from Iran and allied groups across the region. Pentagon officials have acknowledged American casualties and cautioned that further losses are possible as operations continue. Meanwhile, some lawmakers and foreign policy analysts have questioned whether the administration’s framing masks broader ambitions, pointing out that President Donald Trump has at times directly encouraged Iranians to seize the moment to change their government language that critics say looks closer to “regime change” than the Pentagon’s official terminology.