'Destroyed, defeated, obliterated': Pentagon chief criticizes US media’s Iran strike coverage

"Destroyed, defeated, obliterated - choose your word," Hegseth said, citing Israeli and American sources that, according to him, confirm significant damage to Iranian facilities. He questioned media narratives that downplay the scale of the attack’s aftermath.

During the press conference, the secretary repeatedly referred to coverage by outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and MSNBC as "fake news."

He also accused the media of systematic bias against himself, Donald Trump, and the administration.

Hegseth noted that none of the corroborating sources he cited were mentioned by major US media outlets, which he claimed reflects selective reporting and distortion of information.

Trump's criticism

Prior to this, US President Donald Trump criticized the media — particularly CNN and The New York Times — for reports suggesting the strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities was ineffective.

The American leader called the operation one of the most successful in history and claimed that Iran’s nuclear sites were completely destroyed.

What the media reported

CNN and The New York Times reported that US strikes on Iranian sites did not lead to the complete destruction of Tehran’s nuclear program.

Specifically, CNN, citing US intelligence, stated that attacks on three key nuclear facilities in Iran did not destroy the main components of the program.

However, the US president has repeatedly claimed that the nuclear program was destroyed.

US strike on Iran

On the night of June 22, the United States struck nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The Pentagon stated that the operation resulted in the effective destruction of Iran’s nuclear program and the regime’s ambitions.

Recently, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had reached an agreement for a complete ceasefire.