Pentagon says US doesn’t want to pursue war with Iran after bombing 3 of its nuclear sites
Jun 22, 2025, 5:50 AM
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel's effort to destroy the country's nuclear program. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that America 鈥渄oes not seek war鈥� with Iran in the aftermath of a surprise attack overnight on three of that country鈥檚 nuclear sites.
The mission, called 鈥淥peration Midnight Hammer,鈥� involved decoys and deception, and met with no Iranian resistance, Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon news conference.
鈥淭his mission was not and has not been about regime change,鈥� Hegseth added.
Caine said the goal of the operation 鈥� destroying nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan 鈥� had been achieved.
鈥淔inal battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,鈥� Caine said.
