US says Iran strikes not aimed at overthrowing the government

The United States has clarified that its recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were not intended to overthrow the Iranian government, but to neutralise what it described as urgent threats to national security, amid rising tensions and fears of broader regional conflict.

The United States’ military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were not intended to overthrow the Iranian government, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified on Sunday. Addressing reporters at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the operation was a targeted action designed to neutralise threats posed by Iran’s nuclear programme and was accompanied by diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.

"This mission was not and has not been about regime change," Hegseth stated. "The president authorised a precision operation to neutralise the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear programme."

The strikes, carried out under the codename Operation Midnight, involved 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles, and over 125 military aircraft. General Dan Caine, who led the operation, said early assessments showed all three targeted sites had sustained "extremely severe damage and destruction." He declined to speculate on whether any nuclear capabilities remained.

General Caine confirmed that U.S. troops in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria, remain on high alert.

"Our forces are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice," he said.

The Pentagon also noted that private diplomatic communications were sent to Tehran, encouraging de-escalation and the possibility of negotiations, a signal that Washington remains open to dialogue despite the scale of the military response.

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