US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to hold a news conference to offer a fresh assessment of strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following a stinging row over how much American bombardment set back Tehran’s nuclear programme, AFP reports.

The US administration has hit back furiously at an initial classified assessment, with Trump repeatedly saying the attack “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the key site of Fordo buried inside a mountain.

“I can tell you, the United States had no indication that that enriched uranium was moved prior to the strikes, as I also saw falsely reported,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.

“As for what’s on the ground right now, it’s buried under miles and miles of rubble because of the success of these strikes on Saturday evening,” she said.

Trump said that Hegseth, whom he dubbed “war” secretary, would hold a news conference at 8am (5pm PKT) to “fight for the dignity of our great American pilots”.