U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the military is prepared to launch an attack on Iran at a scale not seen since World War II [1].

The statement signals a significant escalation in U.S. military posture toward Tehran. By invoking the scale of a global conflict, Hegseth indicates that the administration is moving beyond targeted strikes toward a more comprehensive campaign if conditions persist.

Hegseth said during a briefing at the Pentagon that the Department of Defense was ready to go and remains ready [1]. He described the current state of military readiness as "locked and loaded" [1].

The secretary said the military is prepared to carry out President Trump's threat regarding the Iranian civilization [2]. This posture comes in response to warnings from the president that Iran should not take U.S. restraint for granted [4].

Hegseth said the U.S. would make Iran pay for the alleged attack on a merchant vessel and the announcement that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz [4]. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, making any closure a primary concern for international markets.

Reports on the current status of military operations are contradictory. One report said Hegseth confirmed the U.S. military launched a new round of strikes against Iran on Saturday [4]. However, other reports and the original video briefing indicated that Hegseth said the U.S. was ready for an attack but did not report that strikes had already occurred [1, 2, 3].

Throughout the briefing, Hegseth said the U.S. remains ready to unleash destruction on a level comparable to World War II [1]. He said the military is fully prepared to execute the administration's objectives in the region [2].

“"The @DeptofWar was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2."”

The rhetoric suggests a shift toward 'maximum pressure' military deterrence. By linking current readiness to World War II levels, the U.S. is signaling a willingness to engage in large-scale conventional warfare rather than the surgical strikes that have characterized recent decades of Middle East conflict. The focus on the Strait of Hormuz indicates that the U.S. views the disruption of global energy corridors as a red line that justifies a massive military response.