U.S. Military Officials Defend Iran Strike, Call Damage to Nuclear Sites “Historic”
At a high-stakes Pentagon press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine strongly defended the United States’ recent military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, characterizing it as a decisive and historic blow to Iran’s nuclear program.
General Caine opened by confirming that on Monday morning, U.S. intelligence had received “indications and warnings” of an imminent Iranian attack on U.S. bases in the region. In response, the military promptly evacuated most personnel in anticipation of potential retaliation.
Hegseth Slams Media, Defends Intelligence
Defense Secretary Hegseth took aim at what he described as biased media reporting, particularly regarding a leaked preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) that downplayed the success of the strike.
“The report admits it’s preliminary, and even states it could take over 80 weeks to gather all necessary data,” Hegseth said. “It hasn’t even been coordinated with the wider intelligence community and is based on linchpin assumptions. If those are wrong, the whole analysis falls apart.”
He claimed the leaked document was shared to “muddy the waters” and cast doubt on the operation’s effectiveness.
Confirmation From Global Sources
To counter skepticism, Hegseth cited a wide range of sources, both domestic and international, that reportedly confirmed significant damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Among those he referenced:
Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, which reportedly confirmed the Fordow nuclear site was “rendered inoperable.”
Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the U.N.’s atomic agency, allegedly stated the strikes caused “enormous damage.”
Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who issued a statement saying credible intelligence confirms several Iranian nuclear facilities were “severely damaged” and will take years to rebuild.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and other global analysts, including David Albright of the Institute for Science and International Security, who reportedly supported similar conclusions.
Criticism of Media Coverage
Hegseth also directed strong criticism toward major news outlets, accusing them of “cheering against Trump” and downplaying the impact of the strikes due to political bias.
“You want him not to be successful so badly, that you’re rooting against the effectiveness of a major military operation,” Hegseth said, addressing the press directly.
General Caine Expected to Deliver Detailed Brief
Hegseth ended his statement by deferring to General Caine, who was expected to deliver a more technical assessment of the strikes and their impact on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The strike, conducted earlier this week, came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following missile exchanges and years of unresolved conflict over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The Pentagon’s strong defense of the operation signals the administration’s intent to highlight the strike as a major foreign policy win, despite initial controversy and conflicting media narratives.
