US strikes against Iran not aimed at regime change: Pentagon chief
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that the country's military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites were not meant for regime change plans. The US has sent private messages to Tehran before the strikes, encouraging them to negotiate, Hegseth said.
Hegseth also warned Iran against retaliation against the United States, and said US forces were postured to defend themselves, and take action if needed.
"This mission was not and has not been about regime change," Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. The president authorised a precision operation to neutralise the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program, he said.
In what has now been called Operation 'Midnight Hammer', the US strikes included 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff US General Dan Cane said at the briefing that initial battle damage assessments indicated that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction, but he declined to speculate whether any Iranian nuclear capabilities might still be intact.
The operation pushes the Middle East to the brink of a major new conflagration in a region already aflame for more than 20 months with wars in Gaza and Lebanon and a toppled dictator in Syria.
Tehran has vowed to defend itself, and responded with a volley of missiles at Israel that wounded scores of people and destroyed buildings in its commercial hub Tel Aviv.
But, perhaps in an effort to avert all-out war with the superpower, it had yet to carry out its main threats of retaliation - to target U.S. bases or choke off the quarter of the world's oil shipments that pass through its waters.
The Iranian parliament approved closing the Hormuz strait, a potential choke point for oil shipments, but the country's top security body is required to make a final decision, Iran's press TV reported.
Caine said the US military had increased protection of troops in the region, including in Iraq and Syria.
This mission was not and has not been about regime change.
"Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice," Caine said.
Key Takeaways The US strikes targeted Iranian nuclear capabilities without intentions of regime change.
Operation 'Midnight Hammer' involved extensive military resources, indicating a serious commitment to US national interests.
The situation remains volatile, with potential for further conflict in the region as Iran weighs its options for retaliation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Regime change? Trump says it's inevitable if leaders fail to make Iran great again
A day after striking Iran's nuclear facilities, US President Donald Trump questioned whether there could be a change of government in Iran. In a series of social media posts, Trump praised the US military for the successful operation and stated the current Iranian regime may not be capable to make "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN.""It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to his slogan "Make Iran Great Again." advertisementTRUMP PRAISES US MILITARY, CONFIRMS B-2 RETURNS HOME SAFELYTrump congratulated the US military, saying, "There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter." Trump also confirmed that the B-2 stealth bombers used in the operation had landed safely back in Missouri. "The GREAT B-2 pilots have just landed, safely, in Missouri. Thank you for a job well done!!! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!" he posted. He added that the damage caused by the strikes was major. "The damage to the Nuclear sites in Iran is said to be 'monumental.' The hits were hard and accurate. Great skill was shown by our military. Thank you!" he Trump confirmed that the US military had bombed three major nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. He said the strikes were carried out with precision and strength."We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home," he RISE AS IRAN, ISRAEL EXCHANGE MISSILE FIREAfter the strikes, tensions in the Middle East rose sharply. The world is now watching closely to see how Iran will respond to the US attack on its nuclear facilities. According to reports, Tehran has promised to defend itself "at all costs."Meanwhile, missile exchanges between Iran and Israel have continued. An explosion in western Iran reportedly killed at least six military personnel, according to Iranian news outlets. On the other side, earlier Iranian missile strikes caused heavy damage in Tel Aviv, injuring many people and destroying the growing conflict, anti-war protesters have gathered in US cities, urging the government to avoid further CLAIMS IRAN RACING TOWARD NUCLEAR WEAPONSIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the situation, saying Israel has "interesting intelligence" about the location of Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent. He claimed Iran is rushing toward developing nuclear weapons and must be had to act," Netanyahu said, adding that Iran's goal to produce 300 ballistic missiles per month made the situation even more defended the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, stating they were necessary to stop what he described as a growing threat to regional and global Watch
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Israel has intel on Iran's enriched uranium, will continue strikes: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has "interesting intelligence" about the location of Iran's 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent. Addressing a press conference, Netanyahu defended Israeli and US actions against Iran, stating they were necessary to stop Tehran's alleged fast-paced drive toward building nuclear weapons. He also mentioned that Iran intended to produce 300 ballistic missiles each month as another reason behind the had to act," Netanyahu said, referring to the strikes that followed the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024. He added that Iran's aggressive moves left Israel with no other option. Netanyahu said he spoke directly with US President Donald Trump about the need to act. "I told him of our need to act, and he understood it very well,' he said. 'And I knew that when push comes to shove, he would do the right thing—for America, for the free world, for civilisation."ISRAEL'S STRATEGY IN IRAN AND GAZA TO CONTINUEIn the same press conference, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel will continue its military operations both in Iran and in Gaza. He insisted that these actions are part of a larger goal to secure Israel's future and eliminate threats from all are advancing step by step toward (our) goals," Netanyahu said. "We are very close to achieving them."He claimed that US strike caused serious damage to Iran's Fordo nuclear facility, which is believed to be a central part of Iran's uranium enrichment program. "We are sending them back, we are removing the threat," he assured that Israel would not be drawn into a long and drawn-out conflict. "We will not be dragged into a war of attrition," he stated, "but we will not stop this historic operation before we achieve our goals."According to the Israeli prime minister, more than half of Iran's ballistic missile launchers have already been taken out. He also said that efforts in Iran are helping Israel achieve its goals in Gaza. "Without the Iranian scaffolding, it all collapses," he said, referring to Iran's support for groups like FOR PEACE AND A CEASEFIRE PLAN IN GAZATurning his attention to the Gaza conflict, Netanyahu said the war there could end immediately if Hamas agrees to surrender. "It could end tomorrow. It could end today if Hamas surrenders, lays down all its arms, releases all the hostages. It's over in a moment," he is hoping for a peaceful resolution in Gaza and revealed that negotiations are already underway through mediators. He said Israel is ready to accept a 60-day ceasefire, during which half of the hostages would be released."I have a plan for a permanent peace," he stated. "We're prepared to go into negotiations right now on the proposal that Mr. Witkoff gave."He also hinted that these military actions could help expand diplomatic ties in the region."I can imagine a massive expansion of the peace agreements," Netanyahu added. "I can see collaborations that might seem fantastical right now but maybe you understand they're not fantastical."
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Iran-Israel War: ‘Chernobyl in the Making?' Explosions Rock Iran's Nuclear Plant After US Strikes
Iran-Israel War: Tensions in the Middle East soared further on June 22 as explosions echoed through Iran's southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country's only operational nuclear power plant. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike, saying it also targeted missile launchers in Isfahan and Ahvaz. The timing of the attack – barely hours after the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites – has raised serious fears of a looming nuclear crisis. While Iranian officials have yet to confirm any damage to the nuclear plant itself, concerns are mounting. Built with Russian assistance, the facility operates using nuclear fuel supplied by Moscow. The same fuel is shipped back to Russia after use to mitigate proliferation risks. As of now, Iranian authorities report no radiation leaks. But the attack is being viewed in international circles as a dangerously provocative move. Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had previously warned that a direct strike on the Bushehr plant could trigger catastrophic consequences. 'A hit on the facility could lead to a massive release of radioactivity, affecting not just Iran but its neighbours as well,' he had said while addressing the UN Security Council. Experts agree that if a direct strike compromises the reactor, the fallout could mirror nuclear disasters of the past. The comparison many are drawing is to Chernobyl. In that 1986 tragedy, a botched test led to an explosion and fire at a reactor in Ukraine, spreading radioactive contamination across Europe and causing long-term health damage to thousands. According to international nuclear safety protocols, any such incident at Bushehr would demand swift protective actions. These would likely include mass evacuations, iodine distribution, food and water restrictions and large-scale radiation monitoring across several hundred kilometres. Russia has issued its own warnings. With more than 600 personnel, including 250 permanent staff, stationed at the Bushehr facility, Moscow had reportedly sought assurances from Israel for their safety. Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said any damage to the site could unleash a disaster on the scale of Chernobyl. The Israeli military had previously claimed its mention of Bushehr as a target was a mistake. But the latest strikes tell a different story. As images of smoke rising over Bushehr surface on social media and satellite data, the world is left to reckon with the possibility that a new chapter in warfare – one where nuclear power plants become battlefronts – may be closer than ever imagined. For now, the region holds its breath. Radiation levels remain normal. But questions remain – how close did the world come to a nuclear nightmare? And what happens if the next missile does not miss?
