In short, the admin is arguing that it was engaged in an act of pre-emption, seeking to terminate a threat, not the Iranian regime. But it is far from clear that the Iranians will perceive it that way. In a brief address from the White House on Saturday night, flanked by VP #JDVance, Secy of #State #MarcoRubio & #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth, #Trump threatened #Iran with more destruction if it does not bend to his demands.

In concluding his briefing, #PeteHegseth attempted to once again reiterate an unwillingness for America’s intervention in #Iran to turn into a protracted #war & labeled the overnight strikes as “intentionally limited.”

“I would just say, as the president has directed & made clear, this is most certainly not open-ended,”Hegseth said, adding that it doesn’t limit #US ability to respond & it will do so if necessary.

The #Trump admin said that its attack on 3 #Iran #nuclear facilities was not about toppling the country’s government.

“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” #Defense Secretary #PeteHegseth said at a Sunday news briefing.

Air Force Gen. #DanCaine, the chairman of the #JointChiefs of Staff, stressed that the goal of “Operation Midnight Hammer” had destroyed the nuclear sites in #Fordow, #Natanz & #Isfahan.

#Trump Secretary of #Defense #PeteHegseth said Sunday that despite a surprise attack overnight on Iranian #nuclear sites, America “does not seek war.”

#Hegseth said it was important to note that #US strikes did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people, a veiled effort to indicate to #Iran that they don’t want retaliation on American targets in the region.

#Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the time for #diplomacy had passed & that his country had the right to defend itself, saying the #US had “crossed a very big red line.”

#Trump #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth echoed his remarks in a press conference.

“I can only confirm that there are both public & private messages being directly delivered to the Iranians in multiple channels, giving them every opportunity to come to the table,” #Hegseth said.