WASHINGTON – US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly defended the American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, backing President Donald Trump’s claims that the operation was a major success. He criticized media reports that questioned the impact of the strikes.
Last weekend, US B-2 bombers dropped massive bunker-buster bombs on two Iranian nuclear facilities, while a guided missile submarine launched Tomahawk missiles at a third site. Trump called the strikes “spectacular” and said they “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Trump also insisted that Iran did not move any nuclear materials before the strikes, including enriched uranium. He said it would have been too difficult and dangerous for Iran to remove such heavy and sensitive materials ahead of the attack.
Despite a recent intelligence report suggesting the strikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months, Hegseth accused the media of spreading misinformation. He called the leaked report a tactic to “muddy the waters” and downplay the operation’s success.
Hegseth cited top US intelligence officials who confirmed that Iran’s nuclear facilities were severely damaged and would take years to rebuild. He even joked that anyone wanting to check the underground Fordo site would need a “big shovel” because the area is now inaccessible.
Additionally, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s chief Rafael Grossi confirmed that Iran’s uranium-enriching centrifuges were no longer operational after the strikes. The US-led operation involved over 125 aircraft and a submarine, marking a major escalation in efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions.