U.S. Claims Iran Has Lost Air Defenses, Navy and Air Force

Mar 14, 2026

U.S. Defense Chief Claims Iran’s Military Power “Nearly Crippled”

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that Iran’s military capabilities have been dramatically weakened, claiming the country has effectively lost its air defenses, air force, and naval power amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking during a security briefing, Hegseth said Iran’s strategic assets have suffered massive losses in recent confrontations. According to the Pentagon chief, the country’s ability to launch coordinated attacks has been severely diminished.

“Iran no longer has air defenses, no air force, no navy,” Hegseth said. “Their missile stockpile has been reduced by roughly 90 percent.”

He also pointed to a sharp decline in Iran’s drone operations. “The number of one-way attack drones launched yesterday dropped by 95 percent,” he added, suggesting Iran’s offensive capabilities are rapidly collapsing.

The defense secretary argued that Tehran’s recent actions in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz signal growing desperation rather than strength. The narrow waterway, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, has become a focal point of rising geopolitical tensions.

Military analysts say any instability in the strait could disrupt global energy markets and trigger a wider international response. Nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the corridor every day.

Officials in Washington, D.C. have warned that continued escalation could provoke stronger international action if threats to maritime security increase.

Meanwhile, regional observers caution that despite heavy losses, Iran still possesses asymmetric capabilities that could prolong tensions across the Middle East.

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