Middle East Conflict: Iran fired lowest number of missiles in last 24 hours, says US War Secretary

The United States on Tuesday said Iran fired the lowest number of missiles in the past 24 hours since the escalation of the conflict in West Asia, signaling a possible slowdown in the intensity of attacks.

Speaking on the ongoing war in the region, the US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said it was the “most intense day of strikes” in Iran, adding that there has been substantial progress towards destroying the Iranian Navy. He said the objective is to destroy Iran’s navy and that US forces are striking with greater precision.

Hegseth also noted that partners in the region are continuing to do great work and claimed that Iran’s weapon stock is depleting. He further asserted that the US will not end the war in Iran until the enemy is defeated.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine said American forces have destroyed more than 50 Iranian ships, adding that the US campaign has struck more than 5,000 targets in Iran.

Notably, US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the war against Iran could be short-lived, but he left open the possibility of an escalation in fighting if global oil supplies are disrupted by the Islamic Republic, which chose a new hard-line supreme leader.

Oil prices briefly shot to their highest level since 2022 a day after Iran selected Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as Iran's supreme leader. Investors saw it as a signal that Iran was digging in 10 days into the war launched by the United States and Israel.