Hegseth acknowledges US and Israel’s differing objectives after Iran oil site strikes

Published March 10, 2026 9:40am ET



War Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged differences on Tuesday between the United States’s and Israel’s objectives after a controversial Israeli strike on oil storage facilities near Tehran, Iran.

On Saturday, Israel launched a series of strikes on 30 fuel depots near Tehran, creating a massive firestorm that sent up a black cloud of pollution over the city and caused black rain to coat populated areas. The strike quickly became controversial, and reports emerged that it angered Washington. When asked about the reports, Hegseth praised Israel’s role in the war with Iran, but acknowledged their different perspectives.

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