At a Pentagon press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine, addressed recent military developments involving Iran. General Caine began by revealing that on Monday morning, the U.S. received credible warnings indicating Iran’s intent to strike American bases in the region. As a result, the U.S. promptly evacuated most personnel from vulnerable locations.

Secretary Hegseth criticized the media for its coverage of a preliminary Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report on the situation. He emphasized that this early report lacked coordination with the broader intelligence community and was filled with “linchpin assumptions,” meaning that a single incorrect premise could invalidate the entire analysis. Hegseth suggested the report was leaked intentionally to undermine the perceived success of U.S. military operations.

He further countered the negative spin by referencing external confirmations of the damage inflicted by U.S. strikes. Citing the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission and the United Nations’ atomic energy head Rafael Grossi, Hegseth claimed the attacks rendered Iran’s Fordow nuclear site inoperable and caused enormous damage overall. These assessments, he noted, were largely ignored by major U.S. media outlets.

According to Hegseth, high-ranking officials such as the Israeli Defense Forces’ Chief of Staff and Iran’s own foreign minister have admitted the strikes set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by years. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also issued a statement confirming the damage, backed by credible and verifiable intelligence sources.

The CIA, Hegseth said, continues to gather and verify intelligence on the destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Former DNI Tulsi Gabbard and nuclear expert David Albright were also cited as confirming the effective dismantling of Iran’s centrifuge enrichment capabilities.

Throughout the press conference, Hegseth repeatedly emphasized that the strikes were “historic” and strategically effective, refuting claims that their impact was overstated. He accused the press corps of downplaying U.S. military success due to political bias against former President Trump.

Before turning the podium over to General Caine, Hegseth concluded by challenging the integrity of the media, asserting that their deep-rooted opposition to Trump compromised their ability to fairly report on national security victories.