Welcome to meet the press now. I'm Monica Alba in Washington.

As the war with Iran escalates, the number of U.S. casualties rises, and oil prices are getting whipsod amid confusion about the potential

for severe supply disruptions. It comes as Defense Secretary Hexeth, alongside the chair of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff this morning said U.S. military action is again ramping up.

Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran.

The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence, more refined and better than ever.

We're also now learning that according to the Pentagon, approximately 140 U.S. service members

have been wounded since the start of Operation Epic Fury, the number of casualties, renewing

questions about the administration's endgame as it sends mixed messages about the timeline

for U.S. involvement.

What I want your viewers to understand is this is only just the beginning.

Mr. President, you've said the war is, quote, very complete, but your defense secretary says

this is just the beginning. So which is it? And how long should Americans be prepared?

Well, I think it could say both. The beginning. It's the beginning of building a new country.

We could call it a tremendous success right now, as we leave here, I could call it, or we could go further,

and we're going to go further.

He gets to control the throttle.

He's the one deciding.

He's the one elected on behalf of the American people when we're achieving those particular

objectives.

And so it's not for me to posit whether it's the beginning, the middle, or the end.

President Trump will determine when Iran is in a place of unconditional surrender, when they

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