US Defense Funding for Iran Conflict Proposed by Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that the United States has conducted over 7,000 strikes against targets in Iran since the start of the ongoing conflict and signaled that the largest strike package of the war is imminent. The announcement came as Israel struck an Iranian gas field and Iran retaliated with launches across the Gulf region.

“Today will be the largest strike package yet,” Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing, echoing a similar statement made Wednesday. He also defended a reported $200 billion funding request to Congress for the war effort, stating, “It takes money to kill bad guys.”

The conflict has significantly disrupted global energy markets, with U.S. Crude futures rising above $97 per barrel and Brent crude futures increasing to $111.87 a barrel, a 4% jump on Thursday, according to Reuters. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for international trade, has reach to a standstill.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, appearing alongside Hegseth, emphasized the U.S. Commitment to striking Iran’s industrial base. He detailed the use of 5,000-pound penetrator weapons against underground storage facilities housing coastal defense cruise weapons and other equipment. Caine also stated that U.S. Forces are “penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to hunt and kill.”

Recent targets have expanded beyond initial missile and air defense sites to include Iran’s defense industrial base, underground facilities, and naval infrastructure. Officials indicate a shift in strategy toward dismantling Tehran’s long-term operational capabilities, with U.S. Forces improving intelligence gathering and accelerating targeting cycles.

President Donald Trump, in a social media post, stated the U.S. “knew nothing about” Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, and warned against further attacks unless Iran attacks Qatar.

The Pentagon is currently seeking an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund the war, according to the Washington Post. Hegseth did not directly confirm the figure but indicated the need for continued funding to support ongoing and future operations.