In a much-needed statement that came in the wake of the Trump Administration’s decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth explained that the purpose of the targeted strike was to destroy the Iranian nuclear program, not to effect regime change in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
SecDef Hegseth’s comments were much needed because many war hawks on the center right and center left, particularly the pro-war “neoconservatives,” called for the attacks and bombings to continue until the religious government of Iran is overthrown. Hegseth clarified that the sole purpose of the attack was to eliminate the threat of the Iranian nuclear program.
Saying as much in a Sunday, June 22, press briefing delivered from the Pentagon alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, Hegseth explained in clear terms that the bombing campaign is not at all about regime change, saying, “This mission was not, has not been about regime change.”
Continuing, he explained that the precision attack on the nuclear facilities was purely to destroy the Iranian nuclear program, saying, “The President authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self-defense of our troops and our ally Israel.”
Building on that, Hegseth claimed that while “the battle damage assessment is ongoing” it appears that the success was as successful as could be hoped, as it appears “that all of our precision munitions struck where we wanted them to strike, and had the desired effect.”
SecDef Hegseth then explained that the Trump Administration was trying to get the Iranians to come to the table in the wake of the attacks, saying, “I can only confirm that there are both public and private messages being directly delivered to the Iranians in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table.”
Further, on that point, the Secretary of Defense argued that the Iranians know what the Trump Administration’s position is, meaning that it is uninterested in regime change and is purely interested in the nuclear program, and thus that he thinks peace is possible without further escalation. He said, “They understand precisely what the American position is, precisely what steps they can take to allow for peace, and we hope they do so.”
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Emphasizing that point about the limited nature of the strike and the possibility for peace, Hegseth noted that while anything could happen, as of now there is still the potential for peace without dramatic escalation. He said, “The scope of this was intentionally limited. That’s the message that we’re sending. With the capabilities of the American military nearly unlimited. So Iran, in that sense, has a choice, but we’ve made it very clear to them.”
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President Trump, on the other hand, undercut that message somewhat with a post on Truth Social in which he said, “It’s not politically correct to use the term, “Regime Change,” but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”