Pentagon, Media Clash Over Iran Nuclear Strikes

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, dismissing leaked intelligence and media reports that the attacks only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by months. He criticized journalists for distorting the story and accused the press of undermining President Trump. Military officials emphasized the operation’s technical achievements, including the deployment of massive ordnance penetrators and precise targeting. However, leaked Defense Intelligence Agency findings and expert commentary suggest Iran’s underground facilities and uranium stockpiles may have survived largely intact. The Trump administration maintains the strikes were a historic success, but independent assessments and Iranian statements challenge this narrative. The Pentagon stated that more data is needed to fully evaluate the results, leaving the effectiveness of the strikes in question.