Trump Backtracks Then Doubles Down on Iran Strike Claims Amid Mounting Doubts.
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again contradicted his earlier remarks regarding the effectiveness of American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Just hours after admitting that the intelligence on the damage was “inconclusive,” Trump took to Truth Social to label reports questioning the success of the strikes as “fake news.”
In a characteristically forceful post, Trump praised the U.S. pilots involved in the operation, claiming they were “very upset” by the media’s portrayal of the mission.
“After 36 hours of dangerously flying through Enemy Territory, they landed, they knew the Success was LEGENDARY, and then, two days later, they started reading Fake News by CNN and The Failing New York Times,” he wrote.
The comments come amid growing scrutiny over the actual impact of the U.S. operation. Speaking earlier in the day at the NATO Summit in the Netherlands, both Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to soften their stance, with Trump saying,
“The intelligence was very inconclusive. The intelligence says we don’t know. It could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests.”
This marked the first public acknowledgment from the U.S. leadership that the success of the strikes may not be as clear-cut as initially portrayed.
Despite this, Trump later reverted to his original claim, insisting that the operation resulted in the “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear programme and had set it back by decades. He also announced that Hegseth would hold a press briefing at the Pentagon to address the concerns and clarify the situation.
Pentagon Leak Raises Doubts
A leaked Pentagon assessment paints a less dramatic picture. According to the classified report, the strikes — particularly those targeting the Fordow nuclear site — may have set Iran’s nuclear programme back by only a few months. The report directly contradicts Trump’s assertion of long-term, devastating damage.
The document also confirmed claims by Iranian state media that Tehran had relocated key uranium stockpiles in anticipation of a possible attack — a precaution that reportedly helped minimize the impact of the U.S. strikes.
Iranian officials have downplayed the aftermath of the bombings, stating that the nuclear infrastructure suffered “limited damage” and that enrichment operations could resume shortly.
Mixed Signals from Allies
Adding to the confusion, Israeli officials declared that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been left in “total ruins.” However, Tel Aviv later clarified that a full assessment of the damage was still underway, acknowledging uncertainty over the actual long-term consequences of the strike.
As Washington prepares for a formal update from the Pentagon, the conflicting narratives — from Trump, the intelligence community, and international allies — have fueled questions over the true scale and effectiveness of the operation, and whether political messaging is overtaking reality.
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