The White House and Pentagon have defended the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, despite emerging intelligence reports suggesting the damage may have been less extensive than first claimed.
President Donald Trump, speaking via his Truth Social platform, said the strikes had “obliterated” key nuclear sites, including the underground Fordo facility. He dismissed claims that Iran may have removed enriched uranium before the bombing, calling such speculation “false and ridiculous.”
“Nothing was taken out… too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!” Trump posted, referring to reports that Iran may have secretly relocated about 400 kilogrammes of enriched uranium.
Pentagon officials also backed Trump’s position. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed that the U.S. used bunker-buster GBU-57 bombs and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles to hit multiple underground targets.
“President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating — choose your word — obliterating, destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth said.
However, a leaked classified report suggested the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear programme by only a few months, rather than the years claimed by the White House. CIA Director John Ratcliffe had earlier said that some facilities would take years to rebuild, highlighting the conflicting views within the U.S. government.
The mixed assessments have sparked sharp political debate in Washington about the effectiveness and consequences of the military action.
