U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright addressed the ongoing conflict with Iran in an interview on ABC News' "This Week" on Sunday, July 19th, 2026, following the deaths of two American service members in an Iranian attack in Jordan. Central Command confirmed the fatalities and reported one other service member remains missing.

Wright described the loss of American lives as "tragic" but emphasized that the United States’ mission will persist. "The president's mission is essential for peace in the Middle East and peace in the world, and that is to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons, and to degrade their ability to terrorize their neighbors and the world and global commerce. So yes, this mission will go on until the mission is done," he said.

Since the conflict began in late February, the Department of Defense reports that 16 U.S. troops have been killed and hundreds wounded. A ceasefire reached in April was extended by 60 days in mid-June through a preliminary deal signed by U.S. and Iranian leaders to allow negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. However, this ceasefire has since collapsed, with both sides declaring the agreement effectively dead.

During the interview, "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl questioned Wright about potential further retaliation by the U.S. government. Wright responded, "It's tragic to lose American lives, but this is a mission that will save countless lives going forward."

The ongoing strikes on Iran have continued for eight consecutive days as of the interview date, underscoring the administration's commitment to its stated goals.

Sources