Translated with AI
The United States destroyed Iran's "nuclear ambitions" by destroying the Iranian nuclear program, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a briefing following the American strikes on the Islamic Republic on the night of June 22, RBK reports.
"Last night, U.S. Central Command conducted a precision strike at night on three nuclear sites in Iran — Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan — with the goal of destroying or severely impairing Iran's nuclear program. The order we received from our commander in chief was clear, powerful and unambiguous. We have destroyed Iran's nuclear program," the minister said.
Hegseth stressed that the operation, dubbed Midnight Hammer, was not aimed at “regime change” and that the U.S. military did not strike armed forces or civilians. He also noted that any forceful Iranian response to the U.S. strikes would be met with a response “far greater in force” than the nighttime attacks.
The head of the Pentagon recalled that US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated: Iran should not have nuclear weapons. At the end of March, the American leader set a 60-day ultimatum for concluding an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, but Tehran did not respond to it. Already on the 61st day, on the night of June 13, Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities.
Trump himself, in an address to the nation earlier, said the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were massive and precise. The goal of the United States, according to the president, was to stop the nuclear threat posed by the "world's leading sponsor of terrorism." He called the attack a "spectacular military success" and said Tehran should make peace.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran reserves the right to take all possible steps to protect its interests and sovereignty.
