Policy

Trump Administration Defends Strikes on Iran as Leaked Report Puts Success Under the Microscope


While Washington continues to declare the “success” of its airstrikes against Iran, newly leaked intelligence suggests a conflicting narrative that has sparked widespread controversy.

On Tuesday, officials from President Donald Trump’s administration criticized a leaked preliminary intelligence assessment regarding the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear facilities during U.S. airstrikes carried out Sunday night. Trump had previously hailed the strikes as a “massive success.”

A CNN exclusive report revealed a “preliminary U.S. intelligence” evaluation that concluded the strikes “likely did not destroy the core components of Iran’s nuclear program.”

The leaked assessment also stated that Iran could restart its nuclear program within one to two months.

Trump Defends the Strikes

The White House acknowledged the existence of the intelligence report but disagreed with its findings.

Speaking from the Netherlands, where he is attending the NATO summit, Trump denied CNN’s claims that the strikes failed to eliminate key parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

He described the operation as “one of the most successful military strikes in history,” adding that Iran’s nuclear sites were “completely destroyed.”

Trump also lashed out at CNN and The New York Times, accusing them of attempting to “downplay” the strikes.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt dismissed the CNN report, acknowledging its existence but calling it “completely false.”

On X, she wrote: “The assessment is highly classified, yet it was leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level individual in the intelligence community.”

She added, “This alleged leak is a clear attempt to discredit President Trump and the brave fighter pilots who carried out this precision mission to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.”

Leavitt argued, “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs precisely on target: total destruction.”

What Does the Leaked Report Say?

The leaked intelligence assessment focused on damage to the Fordow facility, an underground nuclear site buried deep within mountains south of Tehran. It was hit by 14 bunker-busting missiles.

Reports indicate that the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) estimated the entrances collapsed and some infrastructure was destroyed, but Iranians could still dig, repair, or rebuild the site.

Weitzkopf Responds

Special Envoy Steve Weitzkopf dismissed claims that the U.S. failed to achieve its military goals in Iran as “absolutely absurd.”

In an interview with Fox News, he said he had reviewed all damage assessments, including from foreign governments. Without disclosing classified details, he stated:

“The conversion facility in Isfahan – necessary to begin uranium enrichment – was the only one in Iran capable of this function, and it was completely destroyed.”

He noted that the facility, located above ground, was hit with a 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb and did not survive: “Without conversion, they cannot make weapons, even with 90% enriched uranium.”

He added, “There are two other reactors in Natanz – one underground and one above. We know the underground reactor was destroyed. The above-ground one, previously targeted by Israel, received an additional strike to ensure total destruction.”

Regarding the heavily fortified Fordow facility, he said it was “the last active enrichment site,” and 12 bunker-busting bombs were droppecd on it. “There’s no doubt they penetrated the protective shield, reached deep into the site, and completely destroyed it,” he affirmed.

Weitzkopf condemned the DIA leak as a “disgraceful act and betrayal” and called for an investigation to identify and hold the responsible parties accountable.

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