US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the strikes ordered by President Donald Trump overnight destroyed Iran's nuclear program and urged Iran's leadership to choose the "path of peace" to avoid further attacks.

"We have destroyed Iran's nuclear program," Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing, adding that the operation "was not directed against Iranian troops or the people of Iran."

"Trump wants peace and Iran must choose this path," he added.

At the same time, US officials reported that Iranian aircraft did not respond to the strikes and no Iranian missiles were fired.

B-2 bombers and submarine-launched missiles were used for the operation. | BGNES