US is 'not seeking war'

AMERICA “does not seek war” with Iran, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has said in the aftermath of a surprise US attack on three of Tehran’s key nuclear sites.

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The mission, called Operation Midnight Hammer, involved decoys and deception, and met with no Iranian resistance, Mr Hegseth and US Air Force General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon news conference yesterday.

Mr Hegseth said it is important to note the US strikes did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people, a veiled effort to indicate to Tehran they do not want retaliation on American targets in the region.

"This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Mr Hegseth added.

Mr Caine said the goal of the operation - destroying nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan - had been achieved. US President Donald Trump earlier claimed the facilities had been “completely and fully obliterated”.