US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday the conflict with Iran “is not Iraq” and would not become an endless war, describing current operations as limited and focused on eliminating specific military threats.

“This is not endless,” Hegseth said at a news conference, adding that the mission was “clear, devastating and decisive” and aimed at destroying Iran’s offensive missile capabilities, missile production and naval assets so that it will “never have nuclear weapons.”

Hegseth accused Iran of pursuing nuclear ambitions while building what he called a conventional shield of missiles and drones, and said US forces were striking “surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically.”

He said Washington’s objectives were “realistic” and centered on defending US forces, allies and shipping lanes, not regime change or nation-building.

“This is not a so-called regime change war,” he said. “We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives.”