Washington DC, March 13 (ANI): The United States has made significant progress in its ongoing military campaign against Iran under Operation Epic Fury, but Tehran still retains the capability to harm friendly forces and disrupt commercial shipping, US Joint Chiefs Chair Gen Dan Caine said on Friday.
Speaking at a joint press briefing at the Pentagon with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Gen Caine said the US military had severely weakened Iran’s naval capabilities but warned that the threat had not been completely eliminated.
“In less than two weeks, we have rendered the Iranian navy combat ineffective and continue to attack naval vessels, including all of their Soleimani-class warships, which were armed with anti-ship missiles and anti-aircraft weapons,” Caine said.
“We’ve made progress, but Iran still has the capability to harm friendly forces and commercial shipping, and our work on this effort continues.”
According to Caine, US forces have struck more than 6,000 targets since the operation began, with strike missions being launched almost continuously.
“We have attacked over 6,000 targets and our strike packages continue to launch every hour, maintaining an unprecedented number of sorties over Iran,” he said.
He added that as the campaign enters its 13th day, the military expects the heaviest day of kinetic fire across the operational area.
“In just the first 13 days of this operation, our artillery forces have made history. They fired the first precision strike missiles ever used in combat, reaching deep into enemy territory,” Caine said, noting that US forces also used Army ATACMS missiles to sink multiple Iranian naval vessels, including a submarine.
Secretary Hegseth said the United States remains determined to dismantle Iran’s military capabilities completely.
“We are on a plan to defeat, destroy and disable all of Iran’s meaningful military capabilities at a pace the world has never seen before,” he said.
Strait of Hormuz Tensions
During the briefing, Gen Caine accused Iran of acting as the “belligerent” force responsible for disrupting traffic through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, though he acknowledged that some shipping activity continues.
“The only thing preventing commercial traffic and flow through the strait right now — which there is some — is Iran. They are the belligerents here holding the strait closed,” Caine said.
He added that US forces are prioritising strikes on Iran’s mine-laying capabilities, naval bases and weapons depots in an effort to secure maritime routes.
“We have made it a priority to target Iran’s mine-laying enterprise, mine layers, naval bases and depots, in addition to missiles that could influence the straits,” he said.
Hegseth echoed the sentiment, stating that the US would not allow Iran to restrict one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
“The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping. It is open for transit should Iran not do that. That’s not a strait we’re going to allow to remain contested with a lack of flow of commercial goods,” he said.
Caine also noted that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) continues targeting Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities, along with its defence and industrial infrastructure, to ensure Tehran cannot rebuild military capacity that could threaten US forces or allies.
Iran Denies Closing Strait
Meanwhile, Iran denied deliberately blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking in New Delhi, Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, said that although ships are struggling to pass through the waterway due to the current security situation, Iran has not closed it.
“Iran has not closed the Strait. It remains open; however, due to current conditions and circumstances, ships are unable to pass through the Hormuz. Otherwise, Iran never wanted the Strait to be closed or blocked. Some ships are still passing,” Ilahi told ANI.
He also urged world leaders to pressure US President Donald Trump to halt the conflict, warning that rising oil prices are affecting people worldwide.
“Those who initiated this war are the very ones who must stop it. Many people across the world are suffering due to this war. World leaders must unite and exert pressure on the President of the United States, urging him to put an immediate stop to this unjust war,” he said.
Global Concern Over Escalation
The conflict intensified after joint US-Israeli military operations killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, triggering retaliatory strikes by Iran on US and Israeli assets across the Gulf region.
The escalating hostilities have disrupted key shipping routes and rattled global energy markets, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz handles more than 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
Amid rising tensions, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern about the worsening crisis.
In a post on X, Guterres warned that the conflict poses a serious threat to global peace and security and called for an immediate end to hostilities.
“De-escalation and dialogue are the only way out,” he said, urging all sides to cease hostilities, protect civilians, uphold international law and return to negotiations. (ANI)
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