Washington, D.C., June 27 — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday stated that he had not seen any intelligence suggesting Iran relocated its stockpile of highly enriched uranium ahead of last weekend’s American airstrikes, amid mounting scrutiny over the effectiveness of the operation and Iran’s current nuclear capabilities.
Speaking at a Pentagon news conference, Hegseth addressed growing speculation after the U.S. military launched precision strikes early Sunday targeting three key Iranian nuclear facilities. The attack, carried out using over a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, followed President Donald Trump’s directive to “neutralize” Iran’s suspected weapons development program.
"I'm not aware of any intelligence that I've reviewed that says things were not where they were supposed to be, moved or otherwise," Hegseth told reporters, pushing back against media and expert reports that Iran may have preemptively secured its uranium reserves.
President Trump, who was present during the briefing, echoed Hegseth’s remarks. “The vehicles at the site belonged to workers trying to seal concrete over the shafts. Nothing was taken out,” Trump wrote later on his social media platform, though no official evidence was provided.
Satellite Evidence and Contradictory Assessments
Independent experts have cast doubt on the assertion that Iran’s nuclear assets were fully neutralized. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed unusual activity outside Iran’s deeply buried Fordow enrichment facility in the days leading up to the strike. According to a senior Iranian source cited by Reuters, a significant portion of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium stockpile had already been moved to an undisclosed location.
The Financial Times, citing European intelligence assessments, reported that Iran’s uranium reserves appear largely untouched, as they were not concentrated at the Fordow site at the time of the strike.
Mixed Signals from U.S. Intelligence
At the Pentagon briefing, Hegseth criticized a leaked preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which suggested the operation may have only set back Iran’s program by a few months. He dismissed the report as a “low confidence” assessment and claimed newer intelligence supported a more impactful result.
Hegseth referenced CIA Director John Ratcliffe, stating that more recent intelligence indicated Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had suffered substantial and long-term damage, potentially delaying its progress by years.
Later on Thursday, Ratcliffe, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine briefed U.S. senators behind closed doors. Lawmakers from both parties expressed cautious optimism.
“This was never a mission to seize or destroy all of Iran’s enriched uranium,” said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “But the operation itself was extraordinary.”
Democratic Senator Mark Warner (VA) offered a more measured view, noting that without inspectors on the ground, definitive conclusions about Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain elusive. “It was understood well before this strike that some enriched uranium couldn’t be destroyed by bombs alone,” he said.
Broader Strategic and Political Implications
While Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not attend the briefing — following a public disagreement with the President over Iran’s nuclear intent — House lawmakers are expected to be briefed on Friday. The Senate is also preparing to vote on a resolution requiring Congressional approval for future strikes on Iran, though it is not expected to pass.
At the press conference, Hegseth described the bombing operation as “historically successful,” while warning of potential Iranian retaliation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded by vowing that Iran would strike back at American bases in the Middle East if attacked again, declaring a symbolic victory after 12 days of heightened conflict.
Media Criticism and Civil-Military Relations
The briefing turned combative as Hegseth accused the press corps of undermining the success of the military operation due to alleged anti-Trump bias. “It’s in your DNA to cheer against the President,” Hegseth said, without citing specific examples.
President Trump praised his defense chief’s comments, calling the briefing “one of the greatest, most professional, and most confirming news conferences I have ever seen.”
Gen. Dan Caine, who also spoke at the briefing, focused on technical aspects of the strike, including a demonstration video of the bunker-buster bomb tests. He declined to assess the broader impact of the operation, deferring to intelligence agencies. Importantly, he emphasized that he had not faced political pressure to alter his assessments.
“I’ve never been pressured by the President or the Secretary to say anything but what I believe. And that’s exactly what I’ve done,” said Gen. Caine.
As Washington and its allies await a more complete picture of the operation’s outcomes, questions remain about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the durability of U.S. deterrence, and the long-term strategic implications of the latest confrontation in the Middle East.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.