The controversy surrounding CNN’s leak of classified US intelligence assessments on Iranian nuclear strikes has ignited a fierce debate in media and government circles. President Trump claimed the strikes resulted in the “virtual obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities; however, leaked intelligence assessments shared by CNN suggested that the damage was significantly less severe. Was this a coordinated move made by CNN to discredit Trump?
Media Clash Over Leaked Intelligence
CNN’s disclosure of a classified US intelligence assessment regarding strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities has triggered significant backlash from the Trump administration. The leaked report claimed that despite President Trump’s declarations of success, the strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by months rather than decades, contradicting the administration’s public statements.
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough cautioned journalists about potentially being manipulated by elements within the intelligence community pushing their own agenda. He reminded viewers of past instances where leaked intelligence led to exaggerated media reports, urging restraint before concluding the effectiveness of the strikes.
NEW – Hegseth OBLITERATES fake news narrative on Iran strikes: “If you want to make an assessment of what happened at Fordow, you better get a big shovel.”
NBC tried to spin it. Big mistake.
Kelly O’Donnell pushed the narrative that U.S. strikes didn’t really damage Iran’s… pic.twitter.com/5bmb3NfYg8
— Overton (@overton_news) June 25, 2025
White House Forcefully Refutes CNN’s Claims
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt issued a strong statement condemning the leak as “flat-out wrong” and claimed it came from an “anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community.” The administration characterized the disclosure as a deliberate attempt to undermine President Trump and discredit the military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that the preliminary assessment was made with “low confidence” and revealed that an FBI investigation into the leak had been initiated. He emphasized that the operation, codenamed “Midnight Hammer,” successfully hit its intended targets with fourteen 30,000-pound bombs delivered precisely on Iranian nuclear sites.
We dropped fourteen 30,000 pound bombs directly on their target.
420,000 pounds of bombs.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that these nuclear facilities have been completely obliterated. pic.twitter.com/CthAthypLK— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) June 24, 2025
Conflicting Information About Strike Effectiveness
President Trump compared the airstrikes to the US bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, claiming they were a massive success that devastated Iran’s nuclear capabilities. In a Truth Social post, Trump announced the completion of a “very successful attack” on three nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, congratulating American forces for an operation he claimed no other military could accomplish.
Satellite imagery shared by military analysts showed before-and-after effects of the strikes, with visible damage to facilities, though the extent of destruction remains disputed. Mainstream media outlets, including CNN, AP, and the New York Times, cited leaked assessments suggesting Iran had moved much of its enriched uranium before the attacks, leaving critical infrastructure largely intact despite visible surface damage.