No ‘definitive time frame’ for ending Iran war, say Pentagon; seeks $200 billion in additional funds

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday (March 19, 2026) there is no “time frame” for ending the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which was launched three weeks ago.

Iran-Israel war LIVE

“We wouldn’t want to set a definitive time frame,” Mr. Hegseth told a news conference, adding that “we’re very much on track” and that President Donald Trump will be the one to decide when to stop.

“It will be at the president’s choosing, ultimately, where we say, ‘Hey, we’ve achieved what we need to.’”

Additional funds of $200 billion

Mr. Hegseth also addressed a report that the Pentagon has requested more than $200 billion in additional funding from Congress to pay for the conflict.

“As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously it takes money to kill bad guys,” Mr. Hegseth said.

“We’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future,” he said.

Top U.S. military officer General Dan Caine, who spoke alongside Mr. Hegseth, provided details on weapons being used against Iran and its allied forces in the region.

Caine said A-10 Warthogs — a type of aircraft designed for providing close air support — are “hunting and killing fast-attack watercraft” in the key Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran effectively closed to maritime traffic following the start of the war.

He also said AH-64 Apaches are being used in Iraq to target Iran-aligned militia groups there, and that some U.S. allies have begun using the attack helicopters to counter one-way drones launched by Tehran’s forces.