In a stunning display of American air power and strategic precision, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine briefed the nation Sunday morning on the success of a U.S.-led mission that delivered a crushing blow to Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure.

The mission, code-named “Operation Midnight Hammer,” targeted three of Iran’s most critical nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — just hours earlier. In a coordinated assault that underscored American military dominance, B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles rained destruction on key components of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

According to Hegseth and Caine, over 125 aircraft were involved, including a fleet of B-2 bombers—some of which flew a deceptive route westward over the Pacific to mislead Iranian defenses. The real strike force advanced quietly eastward under radio silence for an 18-hour flight, executing one of the most sophisticated operations in recent military history.

“The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear,” Hegseth stated from the Pentagon podium. “We devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it’s worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people. … Thanks to President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated.”

Caine outlined the mission's tactical complexity, revealing that the U.S. submarine force launched more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles at surface infrastructure targets in Isfahan, while stealth bombers delivered 16 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, also known as "bunker busters," onto fortified facilities at Fordow and Natanz.

High-speed suppression weapons cleared the path for bombers, while fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft ran point to absorb any potential threats from Iranian air defenses. Notably, not a single U.S. aircraft was fired upon during the return.

Caine explained that seven B-2 Spirit bombers, each operated by a two-person crew, comprised the main strike package. The team maintained complete tactical surprise using decoys and deception tactics known only to top-level planners at the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command.

This decisive operation comes after months of stalled diplomatic negotiations with Iran. Despite five rounds of talks since April, a sixth scheduled session was canceled following Israel’s direct strikes on Iranian nuclear assets. Yet even as Iran’s enrichment sites smolder, the Trump administration is signaling an openness to diplomacy — on America’s terms.

“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,” Hegseth 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.”

President Donald Trump’s decision to greenlight the mission came after extensive efforts at negotiation collapsed. As CNN reported Sunday, both public and backchannel communications are ongoing, with the White House extending an olive branch — even as it holds the hammer.