Posted on 06/22/25
| News Source: Arutz-7
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a press conference following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which he referred to as an "incredible and overwhelming success."
Hegseth declared that "we devastated the Iranian nuclear program. But it's worth noting that the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people. For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. Thanks to President Trump's bold and visionary leadership, and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated."
He added that "many presidents have dreamed about delivering the final blow to Iran's nuclear program, and none could until President Trump."
According to the secretary, "Iran found out that when POTUS says 60 days of peace and negotiations, he means 60 days of peace and negotiations; otherwise, that nuclear program will not exist. He meant it. He seeks peace, and Iran should take that path."
Hegseth warned Iran against retaliating against the US for the attack, echoing President Trump, who warned that Iran would be "met with a force much greater than what was witnessed tonight."
He gave recognition to the senior military staff behind the strikes, as well as Israel. "This is a plan that took months and weeks of positioning and preparation so that we could be ready when the President of the United States called. It took a great deal of precision. It involved misdirection and the highest level of operational security."
Describing the site, Hegseth stated: "Our B-2s went in and out of these nuclear sites and back without the world knowing at all. In that way, it was historic."
He noted that the strike involved the longest B-2 Spirit Bomber mission since 2001 and the first operational employment of the MOP - massive ordnance penetrator. "The mission demonstrated to the world the level of joint and allied integration that speaks to the strength of our alliance of our joint forces."
While noting that the US does not seek war, he pledged: "We will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or our interests are threatened. Iran should listen to the United States and know that it means every word."
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine went into the specifics of the mission, stating: "Last night, US forces executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities. This was a complex and high-risk mission carried out with exceptional skill and discipline by our joint forces."
He noted that the operation was designed to severely degrade Iran's nuclear weapons infrastructure and was planned and executed across multiple domains and theaters with coordination that "reflects our ability to project power globally with speed and precision."
He added that very few people in Washington knew about the timing and nature of the plan.