U.S. strikes against Iran aim to destroy its missile, naval, and security assets without starting a long war.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Monday that ongoing military actions against Iran are not aimed at an "endless war," clarifying the goal is to dismantle Iran's missile capabilities, naval forces, and key security infrastructure through targeted, overwhelming strikes. He emphasized the operations are "surgical" and focused on achieving specific military objectives without escalating into prolonged conflict.