Former President Donald Trump’s recent claim that U.S. airstrikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities is being disputed by Israeli lawmaker Aryeh Deri. Speaking to Haredi media, Deri stated that Israeli agents had not inspected the Fordow nuclear site, directly contradicting Trump’s statement. He acknowledged that satellite data shows damage but stressed that no one has visited the site for confirmation.
At the NATO summit, Trump maintained that Israeli operatives verified the destruction at Fordow and that the U.S. bombing had effectively dismantled Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He claimed the strikes set Iran back by decades and ensured they would not be able to enrich uranium or build a nuclear weapon.
In contrast, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said Iran’s nuclear program was significantly damaged, citing the destruction of key facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak. However, he stopped short of confirming Fordow’s complete destruction, instead suggesting the site would likely be inoperable long-term due to extensive damage.
Meanwhile, doubts about the success of the strikes have emerged through leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reports. These assessments reportedly expressed “low confidence” about the extent of the destruction, suggesting that while damage was done, Iran’s nuclear program may only have been delayed, not eliminated.
The leaks have sparked internal investigations. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff condemned the disclosures as treasonous, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the FBI is conducting a probe into the source. The conflicting accounts raise serious questions about the accuracy and politics behind the intelligence and public messaging.