Defense Secretary Esper News Conference

Defense Secretary Mark Esper held a news conference at the Pentagon days after the U.S. killed an Iranian general in Iraq. “The United States is not seeking a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one,” he said. The defense secretary also addressed a draft letter that was circulated the previous day indicating the U.S. would withdraw its forces from Iraq. “Our policy has not changed,” he said. “We are not leaving Iraq, and a draft unsigned letter does not constitute a policy change.” Secretary Esper also said he was “confident” that President Trump would not give the military an illegal order, despite the president’s threats to target Iranian cultural sites if the country were to retaliate for the U.S. strikes that killed Iranian Gen. Soleimani. “The United States military will - as it always has - obey the laws of armed conflict.” close