Pete Hegseth at NATO: “The world cannot imagine what our pilots did to stop Iran’s nuclear program”
During remarks at the NATO Summit, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended the recent military operation targeting nuclear facilities in Iran and highlighted the bravery of the American service members who carried it out. Hegseth also addressed media coverage of the attack and the strategic impact of the mission.
According to the Secretary, the operation involved combat and refueling flights deep into enemy territory, lasting over 36 hours— a mission he described as “beyond what anyone in this audience can imagine.” The objective was to eliminate a key component of Iran’s nuclear program, and Hegseth affirmed it was achieved with surgical precision.
“These pilots, these air defenders, risked their lives in a mission led by our Commander-in-Chief to protect the American people and the world,” he stated.
Hegseth also criticized the way some media outlets covered the strike, specifically naming CNN and The New York Times, accusing them of trying to manipulate the story for political purposes. “They don’t care what our troops think or what the world thinks. They just want to make President Trump look bad based on leaks,” he said.
Regarding those leaks, Hegseth explained that the information being circulated publicly comes from preliminary reports labeled as “low confidence,” since the evidence lies buried under tons of debris. “When you drop twelve 30,000-pound bombs on a mountain, whatever was underneath is completely obliterated,” he said.
He added that those who truly know the results of the strike are the military personnel who carried out the mission—and Iran itself. “They know what happened. That’s why they came back to the negotiating table right away. Their nuclear capabilities were hit harder than they ever thought possible,” he assured.
Finally, Hegseth praised President Trump’s leadership, emphasizing his role as Commander-in-Chief during one of the most decisive missions to date. “All of this was possible thanks to the courage of a leader who is not influenced by what fake news tries to say,” he concluded.
