US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a forceful testimony before Congress, strongly defending the Trump administration’s military actions in Iran while acknowledging strain on US weapons stockpiles following the conflict.
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During the hearing, Democratic lawmakers questioned the scope and consequences of the recent Iran operation, with Congressman John Garamendi of California describing the war as a “quagmire” and warning of political and economic fallout. Hegseth responded sharply, rejecting the characterization and accusing critics of providing propaganda space to US adversaries.
🇺🇸 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Iran war to Congress on Wednesday, attacking Democratic lawmakers as “feckless” for criticising the unpopular conflict.
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He said labeling the conflict as a quagmire was “disrespectful to US troops” and insisted that the Iran operation was limited in duration and objectives. “This is not a quagmire,” he told lawmakers, adding that the administration’s actions were carefully planned and strategically contained.
Tensions escalated further as Hegseth criticized Democratic members for what he called contradictory positions on military support and war assessments. He questioned whether critics were undermining US forces while claiming to support them.
However, the most significant moment of the hearing came when Hegseth acknowledged challenges in replenishing US military stockpiles. Responding to questions from Senator Mark Kelly, he confirmed that rebuilding ammunition reserves depleted during the Iran conflict could take anywhere from several months to multiple years.
He emphasized that modern munitions production is a slow process and cannot be rapidly scaled up, highlighting long-term supply chain and manufacturing limitations within the defense sector.
Democratic lawmakers used the hearing to warn against deeper US involvement in prolonged Middle East conflicts, arguing that limited operations risk escalating into wider instability. The defense secretary, however, maintained that current military actions remain controlled and aligned with strategic objectives.
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The exchange underscored growing political divisions in Washington over US foreign policy, military readiness, and the long-term costs of overseas engagements.