A senior US military official overseeing nuclear and chemical safety has been placed on administrative leave after an undercover video surfaced showing him discussing sensitive and controversial issues with a stranger.

The footage, released by conservative activist James O’Keefe, allegedly shows Andrew Hugg speaking candidly during a meeting at a public restaurant.

Hugg serves as a branch chief responsible for nuclear and chemical surety, a role focused on safeguarding weapons systems and personnel reliability.

A US military spokesperson said Hugg had been removed from his position pending a full investigation. He was also reportedly escorted out of the Pentagon following the video’s release.

In the video, Hugg appears to describe protocols governing nuclear weapons access, stressing that personnel must be mentally stable given the destructive potential of such systems.

He also makes a striking claim regarding Iran, suggesting that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei could be a target for the US military if he “does not change course,” raising alarm over the nature of the remarks.

Hugg further comments on US military operations, acknowledging that children killed in air strikes are described as “collateral damage,” and adding that civilian casualties are an unfortunate reality of war.

The official also appears to discuss US missile launch procedures, including verification systems that require personnel to act on authenticated orders regardless of who delivers them, provided all checks are met.

He references US capabilities involving space-based sensors that can track the speed and size of incoming threats.

In another concerning detail, Hugg mentions the presence of the nerve agent Sarin in Maryland, and claims that a laboratory chemist recently died after exposure due to not wearing proper protective equipment. These claims have not been independently verified.

Most of the assertions in the video remain unverified and originate from material released by O’Keefe’s organisation, which is known for conducting undercover operations that have sparked both scrutiny and criticism.

The US military has not confirmed the accuracy of specific statements attributed to Hugg but said the matter is under active review.

The incident comes at a sensitive time amid ongoing diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran. Analysts say the apparent disclosure of such remarks by a senior official could raise fresh questions about internal discipline and safeguards within the US defence establishment.