Trump has strongly denied a new U.S. intelligence report claiming that Iran’s nuclear program was only delayed, not destroyed, by recent airstrikes. The report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) says the June 22 attacks hit sites in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan but only set Iran back by a few months.
Trump Rejects Intelligence Claims
CNN reported that the DIA concluded Iran moved some enriched uranium and key equipment before the attack and that its underground nuclear systems survived the strikes. Satellite images captured trucks leaving the sites just days ahead of the airstrikes.
The report also stated that U.S. bombs damaged entrances to sites like Fordo, but the strikes failed to destroy the core infrastructure. Two officials, who reviewed the intelligence, confirmed that Iran anticipated the attack and took early steps to limit long-term damage.
Despite the findings, Trump continues to insist that the strikes “completely destroyed” Iran’s nuclear facilities. On Truth Social, he wrote, “Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history.”
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed Trump’s claims and declared that the strikes “brought to ruin Iran’s nuclear program,” although Israel has not published its own assessment.
White House Stands With Trump
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the DIA report is “flat-out wrong.” She added, “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”
Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that even if Iran kept some enriched uranium, stopping them from turning it into weapons was still a “mission success.” Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff called the leak of the report “treasonous” and asked for an investigation.
Neither the CIA nor the Director of National Intelligence has commented. However, Trump and his team continue to defend their claims and reject any suggestion that Iran’s nuclear program survived the airstrikes.