Pentagon Leaders Praise U.S. Attack on Iran Nuke, Cite Massive Damage/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Defense Secretary Hegseth declared the strikes “historically successful,” affirming President Trump’s description that Iran’s nuclear sites were “obliterated.” Gen. Dan Caine detailed the decade-and-a-half engineering of custom bunker-busters and praised “brightest explosion they had ever seen.” Both countered early DIA findings suggesting only limited setbacks, criticizing media for premature reporting.
Quick Look
- Sites targeted: 12 bombs dropped on Fordo, 2 on Natanz
- Weapons used: Custom deep-penetrator bombs, built with 15 years of modeling
- Intelligence debate: DIA estimated only a short-term setback; Pentagon challenges this
- Pilots’ description: “Brightest explosion they had ever seen”
- Material movement: No intelligence confirms Iranian relocation of nuclear materials
- Media reaction: Pentagon leaders accuse press of misleading reporting
Pentagon Leaders Praise U.S. Attack on Iran Nuke, Cite Massive Damage
Deep Look
“Historically successful attack”
— Hegseth defends terminology
At Thursday’s Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back on skeptics: “You want to call it destroyed, you want to call it defeated, you want to call it obliterated — choose your word. This was an historically successful attack.” He emphasized that President Trump’s use of “obliterated” was justified by Pentagon assessments and preparations.
Intelligence leaks premature, press under scrutiny
Hegseth sharply criticized early Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessments that suggested the sites were only partially damaged. He argued the report was “preliminary,” with “low confidence and gaps in information,” and rebuked reporters for “breathlessly” highlighting it. He accused such coverage of undermining the mission and the commander in chief.
Engineering brilliance behind the bombs
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, unveiled more technical context. He recounted how two Defense Threat Reduction Agency officers spent 15 years studying Fordo’s underground structure to tailor a bomb capable of penetrating its reinforced shafts.
Caine noted, “We were quietly … the biggest users of supercomputer hours within the United States.” He affirmed each bomb functioned as intended and delivered precise devastation.
Pilots recall explosive intensity
Echoing Caine, pilots described the moment of detonation at Fordo as “the brightest explosion they had ever seen,” highlighting the magnitude and effectiveness of the strike and reinforcing the Pentagon’s confidence in its planning and armaments.
No proof of Iran moving nuclear materials
Pressed on whether Iran may have relocated weapons-grade uranium or centrifuges,
Hegseth stated, “I’m not aware of any intelligence that says things were not where they were supposed to be.” He stressed ongoing intelligence reviews but indicated no sign of Iranian anticipatory action.
Media on the defensive
Hegseth did not hold back in criticizing press coverage: “If you want to know what’s going on at Fordo, you better go there and get a big shovel,” he said. He accused the media of creating misleading narratives based on early leaks, labeling them “biased leaks to biased publications.”
Sidebar Quotations
- “Choose your word… this was an historically successful attack.” — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- “Brightest explosion they had ever seen.” — Pentagon pilot recount
- “We were … the biggest users of supercomputer hours.” — Gen. Dan Caine on weapon development
- “I’m not aware of any intelligence that says things were not where they were supposed to be.” — Hegseth on nuclear material location
Bottom Line:
Pentagon leadership firmly stands by President Trump’s claim that the strikes on Iran’s nuclear program inflicted devastating damage. They provided technical detail on the carefully engineered weapons and operational success while calling out preliminary intelligence leaks and media reporting as premature. However, key evidence—such as thorough battle damage assessments or on-the-ground verification—remains classified and unshared, leaving some questions unresolved.
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