Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth opened his Sunday morning press conference with major praise for President Donald Trump in his first public remarks since the U S military bombed Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday night.

At an 8 am Eastern Pentagon briefing, Hegseth made it clear where the credit belonged.

“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 Esfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program,” Hegseth said. “And as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs will demonstrate, it was an incredible and overwhelming success.”

“The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear,” Hegseth added. “We devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it is worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people. For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over 10 years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. Full stop.”

Hegseth called the mission a “final blow” against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“Thanks to President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated,” he said. “Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran’s nuclear program, and none could until President Trump. The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back.”

“When this president speaks, the world should listen,” Hegseth continued. “And the U S Military, we can back it up. The most powerful military the world has ever known. No other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation that the chairman is gonna outline this morning. Not even close. Just like Soleimani found out in the first term.”

Hegseth also made it clear that Iran had been given fair warning.

“Iran found out when POTUS says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiations. Otherwise, that nuclear program, that nuclear capability will not exist. He meant it,” he said.

Hegseth then took a swipe at former President Joe Biden.

“This is not the previous administration,” he said.

Hegseth closed by echoing President Trump’s message.

“As President Trump said, no nukes,” he said. “He seeks peace, and Iran should take that path. Sent out a truth last night saying this, any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight, signed the president of the United States, Donald J Trump. Iran would be smart to heed those words. He said it before, and he means it.”