New Delhi, June 26 -- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to address the media on Thursday in a high-stakes press conference aimed at countering growing scepticism about the effectiveness of last weekend's US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The move comes amid a fierce backlash sparked by leaked US intelligence documents that contradict President Donald Trump's bold claims of having "obliterated" Tehran's nuclear infrastructure.

Hegseth is expected to offer a "fresh assessment" of the bombings, which targeted three major Iranian atomic sites: Natanz, Fordow, and Esfahan.

The strikes followed escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with both countries engaging in retaliatory military action since 13 June. US military said...