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.
The U.S. maintains a broad military presence across the Middle East, reflecting long-standing strategic interests and evolving regional dynamics.
The United States has called on China to use its influence to dissuade Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would trigger severe global economic fallout and risk major escalation following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Gulf states hosting major U.S. military bases were placed on high alert Sunday after American airstrikes destroyed Iran’s main nuclear sites, raising fears of regional retaliation and a broader conflict that could engulf key energy exporters and destabilise global security.
Senior Russian officials have condemned the United States’ recent military strikes on Iran, warning of a spiralling regional conflict and accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of igniting a "new war" that could backfire by strengthening Iran's leadership.
Iran has strongly condemned the recent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, calling them a violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
The U.S. maintains a broad military presence across the Middle East, reflecting long-standing strategic interests and evolving regional dynamics.
The United States has called on China to use its influence to dissuade Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would trigger severe global economic fallout and risk major escalation following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
NATO member states have reached a consensus on a landmark defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, paving the way for a formal announcement at the alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague.
Gulf states hosting major U.S. military bases were placed on high alert Sunday after American airstrikes destroyed Iran’s main nuclear sites, raising fears of regional retaliation and a broader conflict that could engulf key energy exporters and destabilise global security.
Senior Russian officials have condemned the United States’ recent military strikes on Iran, warning of a spiralling regional conflict and accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of igniting a "new war" that could backfire by strengthening Iran's leadership.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
The United States has called on China to use its influence to dissuade Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would trigger severe global economic fallout and risk major escalation following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
NATO member states have reached a consensus on a landmark defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, paving the way for a formal announcement at the alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague.
Senior Russian officials have condemned the United States’ recent military strikes on Iran, warning of a spiralling regional conflict and accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of igniting a "new war" that could backfire by strengthening Iran's leadership.
The Pentagon concluded a high-stakes press briefing Saturday afternoon following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, outlining the scale and success of the mission while stressing the door remains open to diplomacy.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The U.S. maintains a broad military presence across the Middle East, reflecting long-standing strategic interests and evolving regional dynamics.
The United States has called on China to use its influence to dissuade Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would trigger severe global economic fallout and risk major escalation following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
NATO member states have reached a consensus on a landmark defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, paving the way for a formal announcement at the alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague.
Gulf states hosting major U.S. military bases were placed on high alert Sunday after American airstrikes destroyed Iran’s main nuclear sites, raising fears of regional retaliation and a broader conflict that could engulf key energy exporters and destabilise global security.
Senior Russian officials have condemned the United States’ recent military strikes on Iran, warning of a spiralling regional conflict and accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of igniting a "new war" that could backfire by strengthening Iran's leadership.
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