President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to announce that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. military officials will hold a significant press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday at 8 a.m. EST. The primary aim of this press conference is to defend U.S. pilots involved in recent military operations against Iran and to address what Trump describes as "fake news" coverage surrounding the Iran strike mission.
In his post, Trump stated, “Secretary of Defense (War!) Pete Hegseth, together with Military Representatives, will be holding a Major News Conference tomorrow morning at 8 A.M. EST at The Pentagon, in order to fight for the Dignity of our Great American Pilots." He expressed that these pilots, who undertook a perilous mission over enemy territory, were deeply affected by negative media portrayals following their successful operation.
Trump further criticized early media reports from outlets like CNN and The New York Times, labeling them as "fake news." He claimed that such reports misrepresented the facts concerning the military operation, which he insisted had been a resounding success. “The News Conference will prove both interesting and irrefutable,” Trump concluded, encouraging the public to tune in.
In related news, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have severely damaged Iran's nuclear program. In a statement shared on X, Ratcliffe noted that credible intelligence indicates key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed, with reconstruction expected to take years.
“CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran's Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” Ratcliffe said. This statement comes as a direct rebuttal to leaked reports suggesting that the airstrikes had minimal impact, which Ratcliffe dismissed as based on illegally sourced information.
Additionally, Fox News has confirmed that the Trump administration will conduct classified briefings regarding the Iran operation for both the Senate and House this week. The all-Senate briefing is set for Thursday at 2 p.m., followed by the all-House briefing on Friday at 9 a.m.
These briefings will provide lawmakers with updates on the scope and impact of the airstrikes carried out as part of Operation Midnight Hammer. While the specific briefers have not been confirmed, speculation suggests that Senator Marco Rubio and Secretary Hegseth may participate.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has received mixed reviews following the military actions against Iran's nuclear sites. After twelve days of intense fighting, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory over Iran's nuclear ambitions, claiming that several key sites had been obliterated.
Dr. Or Rabinowitz, a nuclear proliferation expert, expressed skepticism about the IAEA's ability to prevent nations from diverting nuclear material from civilian to military use, emphasizing that the agency's effectiveness is contingent upon the cooperation of its member states.
Experts like David Albright, founder of the Institute for Science and International Security, have assessed that the U.S. and Israeli strikes have effectively dismantled Iran's gas centrifuge enrichment program, delaying Tehran's nuclear ambitions by years. Albright highlighted satellite imagery revealing extensive damage to critical facilities, asserting that the program has suffered a severe blow.
Amid these developments, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons reported the arrest of 17 Iranian nationals, indicating a heightened threat level in the U.S. Lyons stated that many of those detained may have links to hostile regimes or terrorist organizations, emphasizing the need for vigilance against potential threats.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the airstrikes during a media appearance, describing Operation Midnight Hammer as a historic success. She criticized media narratives suggesting the mission may have fallen short and insisted that the operation achieved what decades of diplomacy had failed to accomplish.
In conclusion, as the situation unfolds, the Pentagon's upcoming press conference is expected to clarify the administration's stance on the military operations in Iran and address ongoing media criticisms. This marks a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy and military strategy, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities.
