US to Detail Iran Nuclear Strikes at Pentagon

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to hold a major press conference Thursday morning at the Pentagon to address skepticism about the recent US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following President Donald Trump's announcement. The conference aims to present 'irrefutable' evidence supporting the mission's success and to counter reports from CNN and The New York Times that downplay the operation's impact. Trump, referencing a letter from Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, asserted the strikes—part of 'Operation Midnight Hammer'—rendered Iran’s Fordow enrichment facility 'totally inoperable' and severely set back Iran's nuclear program. The operation included seven B-2 bombers, a Navy submarine launching Tomahawk missiles, and the unprecedented use of bunker-buster bombs. Israeli sources additionally claim that targeted strikes killed at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists, which they say will significantly delay Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The administration continues to dispute media reports minimizing the damage and seeks to reinforce the operation’s significance at the upcoming press conference.