U.S. Energy Secretary Says Military Actions Against Iran Will Continue

On July 19 local time, reporters from the main station learned that U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry stated that U.S. military operations against Iran will continue until President Trump achieves his military objectives.

Perry mentioned in an interview that the Trump administration's goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to weaken its ability to threaten neighboring countries and global commercial activities. "Therefore, this mission will continue until the objective is accomplished."

On the 18th local time, the U.S. Central Command announced on social media that it had concluded its eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran at 11:30 PM Eastern Time (11:30 AM Beijing Time on the 19th). Previously, Central Command announced that two U.S. soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan, and another is missing.

Data from the U.S. Department of Defense shows that since the conflict erupted at the end of February, 16 U.S. soldiers have died and hundreds have been injured.

The U.S. and Iran had reached a ceasefire in April and signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June to extend the ceasefire for 60 days to continue negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue. U.S. analysts have indicated that the ceasefire agreement has now completely broken down, with both sides believing that the memorandum of understanding has effectively expired. (Main station reporter Zhang Yingzhe)