Trump slams CNN and NYT for ‘demeaning' strikes on Iran
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
Trump to deport migrants to conflict-torn African states
The US Supreme Court has authorized the White House to deport immigrants to third countries, including conflict-stricken South Sudan and Libya, regardless of where the individuals are originally from. The Monday decision lifts an earlier order by a lower court that had blocked the emergency removals due to safety concerns. US President Donald Trump has revived a series of hardline immigration measures since returning to office in January, following campaign promises to reverse what he called the 'open border' policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden. In February, the US Department of Homeland Security moved to expand rapid deportations to third countries, prompting immigrant rights groups to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of migrants facing removal without notice or a chance to argue their case. On April 18, US District Judge Brian Murphy ruled that deporting immigrants to nations other than their home countries without due process 'unquestionably' violated constitutional protections. The injunction reportedly forced US authorities to detain eight migrants – who had been flown out for deportation – at a military base in Djibouti. On Monday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of three Supreme Court justices who dissented from the majority decision, accused Washington of violating the lower court's preliminary injunction. 'The government removed six class members to South Sudan with less than 16 hours' notice and no opportunity to be heard,' she stated. Justice Sotomayor said her Supreme Court colleagues should have left the lower courts to handle the 'high-stakes litigation with the care' it required, instead of granting 'the government emergency relief from an order it has repeatedly defied.' The US State Department has placed both Libya and South Sudan under its highest-level travel advisory, warning Americans not to visit due to armed conflict, crime, and political unrest. The US shut down its embassy in Libya in 2014, after earlier suspending operations amid unrest following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed the North African country's longtime leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011. In March, the US Embassy in South Sudan withdrew non-emergency personnel, citing deteriorating security conditions.
Russia Today
5 hours ago
- Russia Today
Trump slams CNN and NYT for ‘demeaning' strikes on Iran
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.
Russia Today
8 hours ago
- Russia Today
Western states lied about Iran's nuclear program – Russia's UN envoy
The US and Israel have spread disinformation about Iran's nuclear program as a pretext for attack, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has said. Speaking at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the diplomat condemned the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as illegal under international law and said they had 'created a real threat' of radioactive contamination. Nebenzia noted that the reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which carries out inspections in Iran, serve as proof of 'the absence of proliferation risks.' 'We want to emphasize that nowhere in the IAEA reports is there any mention of Iran converting its nuclear stockpiles for undeclared or military purposes,' Nebenzia said. The IAEA has found no evidence indicating the development of nuclear weapons by Iran. Therefore, all claims by Western delegations to the contrary are falsehoods aimed at audiences either unfamiliar with the reports or lacking competence on the matter. Nebenzia described the attack on Iran as 'yet another attempt to legitimize the use of force outside the framework of the UN Charter.'IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told Sky News last week that there was no evidence of 'any systematic effort' by Iran to manufacture nuclear weapons. He added, however, that the agency had 'elements of concern' about Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60%. During a press conference in New York on Tuesday, Israeli envoy Danny Danon reiterated his government's position that Israeli strikes, which began on June 13, were aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran, which denies having a military nuclear program, has condemned the attack as an act of aggression and announced plans to restrict its cooperation with the IAEA. The US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on Tuesday and has so far been upheld.
