REPLAY: Pentagon press conference on war in Middle East

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the U.S. has no definitive timeline for ending the war against Iran, which began three weeks ago with Israeli participation, and that President Trump will ultimately decide when military operations conclude. Hegseth's comments at a Pentagon press conference came as the Trump administration faces questions about the scope and duration of the conflict, which has already prompted Pentagon requests for more than $200 billion in additional congressional funding. The lack of a stated endpoint underscores the administration's approach to managing the war without constraining its decision-making, while signaling that Trump retains full authority over military strategy and cessation. Hegseth emphasized that current operations are "on track," suggesting confidence in the campaign's progress, but the absence of clear exit criteria leaves uncertainty about how success will be measured or when the conflict might conclude.