U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on Sunday that recent American airstrikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, echoing President Trump’s bold claims following the operation. Speaking at a morning press briefing, Hegseth credited Trump’s leadership for delivering what he called a historic strike.
“Thanks to President Trump’s decisive and visionary action, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been shattered,” Hegseth said. “No other president has accomplished what he just did.”
President Trump, in a national address Saturday night, described the strikes on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities as a “complete and total obliteration,” calling it a “spectacular military success.”
However, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, struck a more cautious tone. While confirming that the initial strikes caused severe damage to three key sites, he warned that it’s “far too early” to fully assess the impact.
“Final battle damage assessments will take time,” Caine explained. “Initial findings show major destruction, but we’re still evaluating what remains intact underground.”
Satellite imagery has revealed large bomb craters atop the mountain sheltering Iran’s Fordo facility, one of the regime’s most fortified nuclear sites.
Hegseth later added that U.S. precision strikes hit their intended targets and delivered “the desired effect,” especially at Fordo, where the Pentagon believes key capabilities were destroyed. But Caine reiterated that more analysis is needed before confirming the long-term outcome.
“We’ll know more in the coming days, but for now, full verification is still pending,” Caine said.
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