The Trump administration launched a fierce counterattack on the media Thursday, defending recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Pentagon officials insisted the mission was a resounding success, despite reports suggesting Iran’s nuclear capabilities were only temporarily hindered.
Last weekend, U.S. B-2 bombers dropped massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on two Iranian nuclear sites, while a submarine hit a third with Tomahawk missiles.
President Trump hailed the strikes as a “spectacular military success,” claiming they “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure after a 12-day war with Israel.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s praise, saying the president had “created the conditions to end the war” and “destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”
However, American media reported a leaked intelligence assessment indicating the strikes delayed Iran’s nuclear program by only several months.
Hegseth sharply criticized the coverage, accusing outlets like CNN and The New York Times of promoting an incomplete and agenda-driven report.
He alleged the leak was a deliberate attempt to “muddy the waters” and discredit what he called a historic military achievement.
Trump also denounced the report, accusing Democrats of orchestrating the leak and demanding prosecution for those responsible.
Meanwhile, Iran acknowledged the severity of the damage, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calling it “serious” and pledging a full technical evaluation.
Experts from Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization have begun assessing the impact, while discussions about seeking damages have moved to the forefront.
As both narratives clash, the fog of war lingers — shaped by bombs, politics, and an intensifying battle over the truth.