Washington, April 29 (SANA) U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth faced sharp criticism on Wednesday as lawmakers accused him of making misleading claims about the war with Iran, prompting a forceful response during a contentious congressional hearing.
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Hegseth defended the administration’s handling of the two-month-old conflict, known as Operation Epic Fury, while accusing critics in Congress of undermining the mission, the New York Post reported.
“We are two months into what is an existential fight for the safety of the American people,” Hegseth said. “Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.”
His remarks came as Pentagon officials disclosed that the military campaign has already cost an estimated $25 billion, largely driven by munitions and operational expenses. The figure could climb further if the administration seeks additional funding from Congress.
The hearing highlighted deep divisions in Washington over the war’s strategy, cost, and effectiveness.
Democratic lawmakers challenged the administration’s narrative, with several accusing Hegseth and President Donald Trump of offering inconsistent or inaccurate accounts of progress. Representative Adam Smith, the committee’s top Democrat, questioned whether military action had achieved any meaningful gains, noting that previous administrations had contained Iran’s nuclear ambitions without direct conflict.
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