U.S. defense officials announce increased military operations against Iran

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the most significant volume of military strikes against Iran since the start of operations is occurring this evening, with further escalation expected on Tuesday. President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, stated that Iran could be neutralized quickly and warned that such action could occur as early as tomorrow. During his address, Trump also confirmed that the U.S. successfully conducted a rescue mission for a pilot following the downing of an American aircraft in Iran. Trump described the mission as a historical achievement, emphasizing the military commitment to leaving no American behind. Sources report that the U.S. has threatened to destroy Iranian energy infrastructure if a diplomatic agreement is not reached. Hegseth added that the U.S. president is prepared to utilize all necessary lethal and non-lethal resources to achieve operational goals. The administration maintains that the Iranian leadership must choose its next steps wisely.