Iran strike was limited, messages are being delivered, Hegseth says

The United States has received indirect communications from Iran in recent days, US Vice President Vance said Sunday, without elaborating on their content or source.

“Iran’s missile program has shown to be a failure,” he added.

"US has pushed Iran's nuclear program back by a very long time."

“Final decision on Iran strikes was made right before they happened,” he added.

Washington aims to "talk to Iran about a long‑term settlement," Vance noted, but said the US does not seek a regime change.

“We have no interest in boots on the ground,” he added.

Vance said US intelligence reporting motivated the decision to act against Iran, and dismissed fears of a prolonged conflict: “I don’t fear this is going to become a protracted conflict.”

Residents living near nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow face no immediate threat and can safely continue their daily lives, Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Sunday.

“These residents can continue their lives with confidence,” she said.

the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites as an act of aggression, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday, adding that Washington intervened only after Israel failed to counter Iran’s military response.

Pezeshkian said the attack confirmed the United States as the main driver of Israeli hostility toward the Islamic Republic.

“At first, they tried to conceal their role, but once they saw Israel’s failure, they had no choice but to step in,” he said.

Iran’s IRGC Aerospace Force will continue its operations and disrupt Israel’s security, IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour said Sunday in a video from the command room.

“The Aerospace Force’s operations will not stop, and they have taken away Israel’s comfort,” he said.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, calling the action a violation of the UN Charter and a serious escalation of Middle East tensions.

“This move seriously violates the United Nations Charter and worsens tensions in the Middle East,” the ministry said in a statement.

Beijing urged all parties, especially Israel, to halt attacks immediately and return to dialogue and negotiations to prevent further destabilization.