Pentagon Chief Claims "Epic Victory" While Iran Controls Oil Chokepoint and Fires Missiles

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stood before reporters Wednesday morning and declared "Operation Epic Fury" a historic triumph, even as Iran continued launching ballistic missiles and now controls the world's most critical oil shipping lane.

"A 'Capital V' victory," the former Fox & Friends host announced, calling it "a big day for world peace." When a reporter shouted from the back of the briefing room, "They're still firing ballistic missiles!" Hegseth declined to respond.

Hours earlier, the United Arab Emirates confirmed intercepting 17 ballistic missiles and 25 drones launched from Iran. The ceasefire agreement reached Tuesday night—just before Trump's 8 pm deadline threatening to "obliterate a whole civilization"—appears to grant Iran nearly everything it demanded.

What Iran Got

According to publicly reported terms, Iran secured control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil typically flows. Tehran's Foreign Minister announced that vessels must now coordinate directly with Iranian armed forces under unspecified "technical limitations."

Iran also retained the right to continue uranium enrichment for its nuclear program—a capability Hegseth himself called "non-negotiable" during the same briefing where he claimed victory. The deal includes lifting all primary and secondary sanctions, U.S. military withdrawal from the Middle East, release of frozen Iranian assets, and an end to all attacks.

"There's a lot of daylight between the two proposals," noted Fox News host John Roberts, a Trump ally. "Iran says that it wants a continuation of Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz and acceptance that Iran can enrich uranium for its nuclear program. On the other hand, the president says there will be no enrichment."

The Cost

The conflict killed at least 13 U.S. service members, sent gas prices soaring, resulted in countless civilian deaths in Iran, and alienated American allies. The price tag: $45 billion and counting.

Professor Robert Pape, founding director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, called it a "huge strategic defeat" and America's "biggest loss since Vietnam." He added: "Shows the surge of Iran as the emerging 4th center of world power."

Melanie D'Arrigo, executive director for Campaign for NY Health, summarized: "Trump started a war that wasted $45 billion, brought us to the brink of nuclear war, gave his family military contracts, enriched his friends and family with insider information and market manipulation, alienated allies, and strengthened Iran."

Growing Calls for Removal

The ceasefire came after Trump issued increasingly extreme threats, including Sunday's profanity-laced ultimatum and Tuesday's warning that "a whole civilization" could be wiped out. The escalation sparked bipartisan calls to impeach the president or invoke the 25th Amendment—the constitutional provision allowing the vice president and Cabinet to declare a president unable to perform his duties.

Even former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene broke ranks. "25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization," she wrote on X, calling the threat "evil and madness."

Trump declared on Truth Social that Iran was "tired of war" and that the U.S. would "work closely" with Tehran's regime to eliminate its nuclear program—the same program Iran just secured the right to continue under the ceasefire terms.

The Pentagon did not respond to questions about the contradiction between Hegseth's victory claims and the strategic concessions granted to Iran.