Hegseth backs Iran strikes, blasts media over intel leaks

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the recent American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, describing them as precise, justified, and necessary to prevent Tehran from achieving a nuclear breakout. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, he criticized the media for what he called dangerous and politically motivated intelligence leaks, arguing that reports of the strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a matter of months were incomplete and speculative. Hegseth emphasized that the operations were not symbolic but calibrated to send a message and limit Iran’s future capability. Meanwhile, in Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei downplayed the significance of the U.S. and Israeli air campaign, calling it a display of showmanship and stating that the attacks inflicted limited physical damage and were aimed more at saving face for Western governments than altering Iran’s strategic direction. He warned that the Islamic Republic remains unshaken and that enemies should not mistake fire and noise for victory. The comments come amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel, following 12 days of escalating conflict, with the U.S. declaring no further strikes unless provoked, while tensions remain high as Iran warns of further retaliation if provoked again. Hegseth reiterated the administration’s line that the mission was never about regime change but about stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions, claiming that they did so decisively.