In a dramatic escalation of military actions, the United States has conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Iran relations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized on Sunday that the U.S. does not seek war with Iran, despite the surprise attack executed overnight.
The operation, titled ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ was described by U.S. military officials as employing decoys and deception techniques, and it reportedly met with no Iranian resistance.
Hegseth stated during a Pentagon news conference that the mission was not aimed at regime change.
Air Force General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the strikes successfully targeted nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
‘Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,’ Caine mentioned.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking in a television interview, asserted that while he could not disclose sensitive intelligence regarding the strikes, he remained confident that the U.S. had significantly delayed Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon.
‘I think that we have really pushed their program back by a very long time. I think that it’s going to be many, many years before the Iranians are able to develop a nuclear weapon,’ Vance said.
The Vice President also remarked that the airstrikes might provide an opportunity for renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
‘We have negotiated aggressively with Iran to try to find a peaceful settlement,’ Vance noted, referencing President Trump’s previous assessments of Iran’s lack of good faith in negotiations.
He emphasized that the U.S. is prepared to explore a peaceful relationship, stating that if Iran is willing to redefine its actions and not pose a threat to its neighbors or the U.S., then the United States is ‘all ears.’
The backdrop of these developments involves the U.S. military’s insertion into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which has seen an escalation since Israel initiated airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military leaders.
Iran responded to these actions, with officials warning of possible retaliation, leading to heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, held the U.S. accountable for any repercussions from Tehran’s side following the airstrikes.
‘They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities,’ Araghchi stated during a news conference in Turkey.
He expressed skepticism about the potential for diplomatic solutions, remarking, ‘I don’t know how much room is left for diplomacy.’
Responses to the U.S. actions included condemnation from both Russia and China, with Araghchi announcing plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin later.
Additionally, a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement warned of the risk that the conflict could escalate beyond the Middle East to a global scale.
During the Pentagon briefing, officials refrained from providing further details about Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Hegseth outlined that President Trump had set a timeline for discussions with Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions, emphasizing that Iran would understand that when Trump indicates a period of negotiation, it is indicative of an expectation for peace.
‘Otherwise, that nuclear program, that new nuclear capability will not exist. He meant it,’ Hegseth stated.
Confusion arose as the White House previously indicated that President Trump’s decision on whether to strike Iran could extend to two weeks, showcasing internal complexities regarding U.S. strategy.
The military operation was facilitated by Iran’s compromised air defenses, allowing U.S. forces to execute their targets without facing any Iranian resistance.
Caine noted that Iran’s fighter jets remained grounded, while their surface-to-air missile systems failed to detect the U.S. movements throughout the operation.
The strikes occurred Saturday evening in Washington, roughly coinciding with early Sunday morning in Iran, showcasing the immediacy of the U.S. military response.
Decoys were a significant element of the strategy, as Hegseth explained that certain B-2 bombers were moved from their base in Missouri purely as a deception tactic.
He added that the U.S. also deployed fighter jets to safeguard the bombers during the critical phase of the operation, where 14 ‘bunker-buster’ bombs were utilized against the Fordo facility.
As the world grapples with the aftermath of these strikes, the implications for U.S.-Iran relations and broader geopolitical stability remain uncertain.
image source from：latimes
