US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that military strikes on Iran will continue until President Donald Trump is satisfied. According to Hegseth, only Trump can decide how long the operation will last, which could extend for two, four, or even six weeks, depending on circumstances. The statement was reported by CNN on March 2, 2026.

Hegseth and General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the joint US-Israel operation will persist until Trump believes all its objectives have been achieved. The officials did not specify the exact goals or timeline of the campaign.

The report also noted related developments, including Iran’s leadership maintaining a firm stance following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, a Kuwaiti naval officer’s death, NATO’s declaration that it will not engage in the Iran conflict, and Spain’s refusal to allow its bases to be used for the attacks.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed that there are currently no American ground troops deployed in Iran. Speaking on March 2, 2026, he stated that Washington remains prepared to take necessary measures to protect US interests if required, though such actions would not be taken recklessly. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

Hegseth questioned the logic of publicly outlining potential military options, saying it would not be wise to reveal in advance what steps the United States might take to achieve its objectives. The statement underscored a cautious but firm stance from Washington amid ongoing regional tensions.

According to the report, Iran has not issued any immediate response to Hegseth’s comments.

A member of the US military who was critically injured in Iranian attacks has died, raising the total number of US military fatalities to four, according to an official statement from the United States. The announcement follows reports from the US Central Command, which earlier confirmed that three service members had been killed and five others seriously wounded.

The Central Command stated that the deceased soldier had sustained severe injuries during the Iranian assault and later succumbed to those wounds. The report did not specify the exact location or timing of the incident but linked the death directly to the ongoing hostilities involving Iran.

The situation underscores the continuing escalation between the United States and Iran, with related developments including the death of a Kuwaiti naval officer, NATO’s declaration that it will not engage in the conflict, and Spain’s refusal to allow its bases to be used for attacks on Iran.

Inter Miami overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Orlando City 4-2 in their second match of the new MLS season. After trailing 2-0 within the first 24 minutes, Lionel Messi led a stunning turnaround with two goals and an assist. The match, played on March 2, 2026, saw Miami recover from a poor start to the season following their opening loss to Los Angeles FC.

Coach Javier Mascherano’s tactical change proved decisive when he replaced defender Noah Allen with attacker Mateo Silvetti, who scored Miami’s first goal in the 49th minute. Messi equalized with a precise left-footed strike in the 57th minute, then assisted Talisco Segovia’s goal in the 85th minute before sealing the victory with a free-kick in stoppage time. The win marked Messi’s 70th career free-kick goal and brought his total career tally to 898.

Mascherano praised his team’s mental resilience, noting that Orlando is always a tough opponent. Inter Miami will next face DC United at Audi Field in Washington on Saturday, aiming to build on this momentum early in the season.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump is set to preside over a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, marking the first time a First Lady will chair such a session. Her office stated that she will emphasize the role of education in promoting tolerance and advancing global peace. The announcement came shortly before the United States began military action against Iran.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that this will be the first instance of a First Lady leading a Security Council meeting. The United States holds the rotating presidency of the Council for March. Melania Trump has previously engaged in diplomatic efforts, including advocating for the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

The development comes amid growing political and financial tensions between Washington and the United Nations. Analysts suggest President Donald Trump may be seeking to bypass the Council through his “Peace Abroad” initiative, which recently convened in Washington to discuss Gaza reconstruction funding.

The US Department of Defense informed Congress that it found no clear evidence Iran had planned a preemptive strike against the United States before the recent joint US-Israel attack. According to a Reuters report, Pentagon officials told congressional staff in a closed-door meeting that Iran’s ballistic missile program and allied forces were viewed as immediate threats to US interests. However, they acknowledged that there was no specific intelligence indicating Tehran had planned to attack US forces in advance.

The report noted that officials from the Trump administration had previously claimed there were signs Iran might carry out a preemptive strike. The new Pentagon assessment has raised questions about the validity of those earlier claims.

The disclosure adds a new dimension to ongoing debates in Washington about the accuracy of intelligence assessments and the justification for military actions involving Iran.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has publicly questioned President Donald Trump’s decision to order an attack on Iran. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Sanders wrote that Trump justified the strike by claiming Iran should not possess nuclear weapons, a reasoning Sanders appeared to challenge.

Referring to statements made in June, Sanders noted that Trump had previously declared Iran’s nuclear facilities completely destroyed after a 12-day conflict. He concluded his post with the remark, “Vietnam, Iraq, Iran. Another lie, another war,” suggesting skepticism toward the administration’s justification for military action.

The post adds to ongoing debate in the United States over the rationale and transparency behind recent military operations targeting Iran.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will hold a press conference on Monday morning to address the joint US-Israel military operation, marking the first official briefing by a senior American official since the operation began on Saturday. According to AFP, the Pentagon announced on social media that the briefing will take place at 8 a.m. local time, with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane also attending.

The White House stated on Sunday that Hegseth will visit Congress on Tuesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to brief lawmakers on the progress of the operation. The opposition Democratic Party has criticized the administration, claiming it was not consulted before the operation began.

The joint forces of the United States and Israel launched attacks in Iran on Saturday. Iranian state media confirmed on Sunday that the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a strike in Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that military operations in Iran will continue until all objectives are achieved. He made the statement in a recently released video, emphasizing that the campaign would not stop before its goals are met.

Trump acknowledged the likelihood of additional American casualties, calling it an unfortunate but necessary consequence. He described the ongoing campaign as the only viable path and vowed that the United States would avenge the deaths of its soldiers by delivering the most punitive strikes against terrorists who, he said, had launched a war against civilization.

The president urged Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and military police to surrender their weapons in exchange for full immunity, warning that refusal would lead to certain death. His remarks underscored a continuation of U.S. military pressure on Iran, with no indication of an immediate de-escalation.

The United States and Israel have continued airstrikes on Iran for a third consecutive day, while Iran has responded with counterattacks. A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that only one in four Americans support the US military action against Iran. The survey found that 27 percent of respondents backed the strikes, 43 percent opposed them, and 29 percent remained undecided.

Nearly half of Americans believe President Donald Trump is overly eager to use military force, according to the same poll. Even among Republicans, one in four share that view. The findings highlight a divided public opinion over the administration’s handling of the escalating conflict with Iran.

Following the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Trump claimed that Iran’s new leadership has expressed willingness to engage in talks with the United States, and he stated his own readiness to meet them.

US President Donald Trump stated that the ongoing military operation against Iran could last up to four weeks. According to a report by Al Jazeera on Sunday night, Trump made the remarks in an interview with the British newspaper Daily Mail. He said the campaign was planned from the beginning as a four-week process and could take around that time or less. Trump added that Iran is a large and strong country, but the operation was expected to be completed within that timeframe.

Trump also mentioned that he remains open to further discussions with Iranian officials, though he did not clarify whether such talks would take place soon. He noted that Iran had shown interest in dialogue but suggested that they should have initiated talks earlier. The comments come amid continuing hostilities and uncertainty over the duration and outcome of the conflict.

The report did not specify any immediate next steps or responses from Iranian authorities regarding Trump’s statements.

Following joint Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran that triggered widespread conflict across the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated a readiness to engage in dialogue with Iran’s new leadership. The statement, reported by The Atlantic magazine, marks a potential shift toward de-escalation after days of retaliatory strikes that caused heavy casualties in multiple countries.

According to The Atlantic, Trump said Iran’s new leaders want to talk with his administration and that he plans to speak with them. He added that such discussions should have taken place earlier, describing the missed opportunity as a delay by Iran. However, when asked about the timing of the talks, Trump declined to comment, leaving the schedule uncertain.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as a source, comes amid ongoing regional instability, with Israel, Iran, and several Arab nations affected by the violence. The indication of possible dialogue suggests a tentative step toward easing tensions, though no concrete timeline has been set.

The United States has confirmed that three of its soldiers were killed during an ongoing military operation against Iran. According to an official statement from the U.S. military, five other soldiers were seriously injured in the same incident, while several others sustained minor physical and psychological injuries. Medical treatment and rehabilitation are underway, and efforts are being made to return the injured personnel to duty gradually.

The U.S. Central Command stated that major combat operations are continuing and that response efforts remain active, though the situation is currently stable. The command also noted that, out of respect for the families of the deceased, the names and further details of the soldiers will not be released until their next of kin have been formally notified.

The announcement comes amid heightened military activity involving Iran, with the U.S. maintaining that its operations are part of a broader campaign in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that some American troops or personnel could be killed or injured in connection with an ongoing operation involving Iran. In a video shared on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said his administration had taken all possible measures to reduce risks to U.S. personnel in the Middle East. However, he cautioned that the Iranian leadership was seeking to cause harm.

Trump stated that while the loss of brave American lives was possible, such sacrifices were part of the realities of war. He emphasized that the operation was being carried out not only for immediate security but also for a greater purpose in the future. The statement came amid heightened regional tensions following reports of Iranian missile and drone attacks toward Israel and other related developments in the Middle East.

The warning underscores the potential for further escalation in U.S.-Iran relations as military activities continue in the region.

U.S. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has publicly opposed the ongoing war involving the United States and Iran. The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran early Saturday, prompting Iran to retaliate by targeting American bases in Gulf Arab states. In a social media post, Massie declared his opposition to the war, saying it does not align with an 'America First' approach.

Massie stated that he will work to make a congressional vote mandatory before the United States engages in war with Iran. He emphasized that, under the Constitution, such a vote is required and that every representative must have their position on the war officially recorded.

The situation follows reports of Iranian missile and drone strikes toward Israel and claims of casualties among Iranian military leaders, though Iranian officials have said most top figures remain safe.