U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed claims that Iran relocated highly enriched uranium ahead of recent U.S. strikes targeting its nuclear program, calling media reports about the alleged movement "unsubstantiated." Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Hegseth stated he had not reviewed any intelligence indicating Iran moved uranium stockpiles from the Fordow facility prior to the attacks.
This contradicts analyses by experts and satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showing unusual vehicle activity at Fordow days before the strikes. A senior Iranian source separately claimed to Reuters that most of Iran's 60% enriched uranium—close to weapons-grade—had been moved to an undisclosed location. Hegseth accused media outlets of undermining the success of the U.S. operation, which he asserted caused "severe damage" to Iran's nuclear capabilities.
The remarks follow a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment suggesting the strikes only delayed Iran's program by months. Hegseth dismissed the report as "low confidence," citing CIA Director John Ratcliffe's view that rebuilding would take years. The conflicting narratives highlight ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions and the geopolitical stakes of regional security.
