After the United States hit Iran with a series of “precision strikes” against three of its key nuclear facilities on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hisgesth insisted that the operation was “intentionally limited” as the perspective of a broader war progressed.
“Well, anything can happen in the conflict. We recognize that, but the scope of this was intentionally limited,” Hegseth said during a press conference on Sunday with the president of the Chiefs of Staff Joint Dan Caine.
Many legislators and even some of the president’s allies were against hitting Iran after President Trump’s vote to keep the United States out of foreign conflicts and, following decades of open conflicts throughout the Middle East.
Specifically, Hegseth said that the objective of the United States mission was not regime change, a perspective that Israel has left open.
And he said that public and private channels were open with the Iranians in an attempt to take them to the table for negotiations.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington, on June 22, 2025.
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“They understand precisely what the American position is, precisely what steps can take to allow peace, and we hope they do it,” he said.
Hegseth also pointed out that the strikes were attacked only in Iran’s nuclear program, not in their military members or civilian population.
“The United States does not seek war,” said Hegseth. “But allow me to be clear, we will act quickly and decisively when our people, our partners or our interests are threatened.”
Hegesh’s comments echoed Trump’s on Saturday night, when he said peace was the objective of the mission and warned that Iran took more steps against US interests.
President Donald Trump and Vice Presiden JD Vance in the situation room, in the White House in Washington, on June 21, 2025.
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“There will be peace or tragedy for Iran, much greater than we have witnessed in the last eight days,” Trump said. “Remember, there are many goals. Tonight was the most difficult of them, and perhaps the most lethal.
“But if peace does not come quickly, we will pursue those other objectives with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be drawn in a matter of minutes.”
On Sunday “this week” by ABC News, vice president JD Vance tried to make clear “we are not at war with Iran, Jon. We are at war with Iran’s nuclear program.”
After the attacks, the Democrats and some Republicans criticized Trump’s measure, and some called it “unconstitutional.”
“Donald Trump promised to bring peace to the Middle East. He has not fulfilled that promise,” said the Democratic leader of the Hakeem representatives Chamber Jeffries, from New York. “The risk of war has now increased dramatically, and I pray for the security of our troops in the region that have been endangered.”
