The Trump administration is not seeking regime change in Iran, the Pentagon insisted on Sunday, after the largest B-2 stealth operational strikes in US history were carried out on Iranian nuclear facilities.
“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
“The President authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self-defense of our troops and our ally Israel,” Hegseth told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon.
Over 125 aircraft were involved in the operation dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
Flanked by the top US general, Hegseth issued a warning to Tehran: “As the President has directly made clear, this is most certainly not open-ended. It doesn’t mean it limits our ability to respond. We will respond if necessary.
The most powerful military in the world is postured and prepared to defend our people.”
Separately, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the US military was on high alert. “Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice. We will defend ourselves,” he said.
