Asked whether regime change in Iran is off the table as a US policy goal, US Defence Secretary Hegseth replied: “This mission was not, is not about regime change”.

He described the attack as a “precision operation to neutralise the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear programme”.

US General Dan Caine, when asked whether Iran still retains some nuclear capacity after the attack, said it would be premature to comment before the damage assessment is complete.