Trump, Hegseth use 9/11 memorial to defend Iran war

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used their speeches at a Pentagon ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks to defend the ongoing U.S.-Israel war on Iran, linking the conflict directly to the legacy of the 2001 terrorist strikes. The remarks, delivered at a memorial typically reserved for honoring victims, drew criticism for politicizing a day of national mourning. At the ceremony, Trump stated that U.S. service members are fighting to ensure Iran, which he called "the world's number one sponsor of terror," never acquires a nuclear weapon. He drew a direct connection between the current war and the 9/11 attacks, saying, "That's why we fight today. We don't have a choice. There can only be victory." Hegseth delivered a more bellicose address, claiming Iran's defenses have been dismantled and that the U.S. is sending terrorists "to hell" and tankers "to the bottom of the ocean." He described the war as part of a struggle against an Islamic theocracy that has "wished us death for nearly half a century" and warned that enemies plot to kill Americans "including from Islamic terrorists abroad and at home.