Donald Trump reacted to reports that Saturday’s strikes on Iran did not damage the nuclear sites.
The US leader ordered an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 21, later labelling it a ‘success’ and claiming the sites were ‘completely obliterated’.
The attack was launched after rising concern about Iran’s potential nuclear plans.
Now, expert Dr Jeffrey Lewis has spoken to The Independent claiming Iran potentially had time to move some of its weapons from the impact sites before the bombs landed.
Lewis said: “I understand that Fordow has a symbolic importance to people, but it is by no means the only underground facility associated with Iran’s nuclear program.”
“Given how long it took the US to strike, it’s not clear to me that by the time it was hit, it was even the most important, because the Iranians had had time to power off centrifuges and possibly remove them.”
An initial assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency agreed, sharing with CNN that the report claiming Iran’s stockpile of uranium was not destroyed and that the US may have to issue another strike in the future.
Trump has since responded to these claims, calling the press ‘disrespectful’ to the ‘great geniuses’ who were flying the jets.
Sharing to Truth Social, he wrote: “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,”,
“THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED! BOTH THE TIMES AND CNN ARE GETTING SLAMMED BY THE PUBLIC!”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the CNN article: “This alleged assessment is flat-out wrong and was classified as ‘top secret’ but was still leaked to CNN by an anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community.
“The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program. Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”
Worry is growing about the impact of the bombings and fears that Iran will hit back at the US are spreading.
It appears Iran responded after launching missiles towards the US air bases in Iraq and Qatar.
“I think this is why Trump looked so uncomfortable during that very short speech. The ball is Iran’s court, he’s hoping it won’t spike it.”
While a third remarked: “Never seen President Trump so nervous. I think he fears Irans retaliation, possibly nukes?”
Now, Trump is being criticized over his speech, with some even comparing him to former leaders.
He said: “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.
“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace – if they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”
People online were left feeling more concerned, it seems, with some taking to X: “I have never seen a US President that was so weak and so scared about taking military action that he needed his yes-man entourage to keep him company at the podium in the Cross Hall.” wrote one person.
I have never seen a US President that was so weak and so scared about taking military action that he needed his yes-man entourage to keep him company at the podium in the Cross Hall. pic.twitter.com/mk1MRTc8D8
— Jake Broe (@RealJakeBroe) June 22, 2025
A second agreed, writing: “I think this is why Trump looked so uncomfortable during that very short speech. The ball is Iran’s court, he’s hoping it won’t spike it.”
While a third pointed out: “Never seen President Trump so nervous. I think he fears Irans retaliation, possibly nukes?”