US defense secretary rejects intel report suggesting US strikes on Iran were ineffectual

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other military officials hold a morning news conference to respond to an early leaked intelligence report suggesting US strikes against Iran likely put the country back mere months.

The defense secretary minimizes the importance of a preliminary intelligence assessment that concluded US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities had damaged but not permanently destroyed them.

“President Trump directed the most complex and secretive military operation in history, and it was a resounding success,” he says.

Hegseth scolds the media for “breathlessly” focusing on an assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency even though the DIA is part of the Defense Department.

He says the assessment was preliminary and had not been coordinated with other agencies in the intelligence community. He says other intelligence assessments have been more bullish in their assessments of damage to the sites.

The news conference began with Hegseth, a former Fox News host, criticizing the media for “hunting for scandals all the time.”

Hegseth: "President Trump directed the most complex and secretive military operation in history, and it was a resounding success."

Move over D Day! pic.twitter.com/2fRUVdQ6eV

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 26, 2025

He accused reporters of failing to acknowledge “historic moments” from the NATO summit in The Hague, like improved military recruiting and increased spending on European defense by US allies on the continent.

He then shifted to attacking the “fake news” for reporting on the preliminary assessment.

Israeli officials say the damage to Iran’s nuclear program has been severe.