Secretary Hegseth: Last night, on President Trump's orders, U.S. Central Command conducted a precision strike, in the middle of the night, against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in order to destroy, or severely degrade, Iran's nuclear program…we devastated the Iranian nuclear program. It's worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops, or the Iranian people.

Secretary Hegseth: Just like Soleimani found out in the first term, Iran found out that when POTUS says sixty days, that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means sixty days of peace and negotiation, otherwise, that nuclear program, that nuclear capability, will not exist. He meant it.

General Caine: Last night, on the president's orders, U.S. Central Command, under the command of General Erik Kurilla, executed Operation: Midnight Hammer. A deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities.

General Caine: We are currently unaware of any shots fired at the U.S. Strike Package on the way in.

General Caine: We are unaware of any shots fired at the package on the way out. Iran's fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran's surface to air missile systems did not see us.

Secreatary Hegseth: This mission was not, and has not been, about regime change. 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.

Secretary Hegseth: The battle damage assessment is ongoing, but our initial assessment, as the Chairman said, is that all of our precision munitions struck where we wanted them to strike, and had the desired effect, which means especially Fordow, which was the primary target here; we believe we achieved destruction of capabilities there.

Secretary Hegseth: 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. They understand precisely what the American position is, precisely what steps they can take to allow for peace, and we hope they do so.

Secretary Hegseth: I think Tehran is certainly calculating the reality that planes flew from the middle of America, in Missouri, overnight, completely undetected, over three of their most highly sensitive sites, and we were able to destroy nuclear capabilities, and our boys in those bombers are on their way home right now. We believe that will have a clear psychological impact on how they view the future, and we certainly hope they take the path of negotiated peace.

LiveNOW: The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirming the attacks did take place, but insisted it's nuclear program would not be stopped.