US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that Saturday night's strikes on Iran were deliberately aimed at "weakening" and "destroying" its nuclear capabilities. Speaking to reporters, he claimed, "Iran's nuclear program has been decimated." Hegseth added that there were no military or civilian casualties. He further asserted, "Many US presidents have dreamed of delivering a decisive blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions, but only Trump has had the courage to carry it out." He stressed that the world should listen when Trump speaks and claimed no other nation but the US could execute such a mission. The operation was codenamed Midnight Hammer, according to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.