'Fake news': Trump doubles down on 'Iran nuclear sites obliterated' claim after US intel contradicts him; defends Op Midnight Hammer

President Donald Trump vehemently rejected news reports suggesting that the recent US strikes on Iran failed to destroy Tehran’s nuclear programme, calling it "FAKE NEWS" and insisting the sites were "completely destroyed".Posting in all caps on Truth Social, Trump 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!”

The CNN report, based on a classified assessment by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, claimed the strikes only temporarily set back Iran’s nuclear programme.

It said the attacks failed to fully eliminate centrifuges or enriched uranium stockpiles, with some facilities reportedly sealed off but not destroyed.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the report’s existence but said it was “flat-out wrong” and “a clear attempt to demean President Trump”. She added, “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also criticised the report, calling the intelligence leak “treasonous” and demanding an investigation. “Those responsible should be held accountable… The site was obliterated,” he told Fox News.