The outlets reported that the US bombing campaign had failed to destroy key facets of Tehran’s nuclear program
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at CNN and The New York Times for reporting that Washington’s recent airstrikes on Iran caused only limited damage.
On Tuesday, the two news outlets cited a preliminary Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment casting into doubt Trump’s claims of having dealt a critical blow to Iran’s nuclear program.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED!”
According to CNN, the US strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of Tehran’s nuclear program and “likely only set it back by months.”
Two sources told the network that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed, and one noted that the centrifuges – which are essential for enriching uranium – were largely “intact.”
The damage at the key nuclear sites was largely restricted to aboveground structures, despite B-2 heavy bombers dropping over a dozen “bunker-buster” bombs during the raid, the report said.
The New York Times reported similar conclusions, claiming that the strikes had sealed off entrances to two of the sites but did not collapse the underground structures. Officials cited in the NYT report said the program had been delayed by less than six months.
Unnamed Israeli officials also told the NYT that they believed Iran maintains small covert enrichment facilities, which could allow it to continue the nuclear program even if its larger sites are hit again.
The recent escalation kicked off on June 13, when Israel launched a series of strikes it said were aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tehran, which retaliated with strikes of its own, has denied the accusations, insisting its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
The US later joined the attack, unleashing heavy bombers and Tomahawk missiles on Iran’s most fortified facilities, claiming that its sole goal is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Both Israel and Iran subsequently proclaimed victory in the conflict.
A ceasefire was later announced, with Iranian officials signaling that Tehran was open to resuming talks with the US.
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