Defense Secretary Criticizes Media for Early Reports on Iran Strike Damage

Washington — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharply criticized media outlets such as CNN and The New York Times for reporting early assessments of the damage caused by recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. He emphasized that proper evaluations take weeks, not days, and accused the outlets of sensationalism.

Hegseth pointed to a preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency suggesting that the strikes at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz might allow Iran to resume its nuclear activities within one to two months. He condemned the coverage as “fake news” and accused the press of prematurely celebrating what was only a low-confidence assessment that didn’t account for comprehensive intelligence data.

The defense chief highlighted that sources like the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission and the UN’s nuclear agency confirmed the strikes inflicted significant damage. However, media reports focused only on the DIA’s assessment, which acknowledged there were gaps and assumptions in the data.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Pentagon press conference. — Hegseth criticized the early reporting and emphasized the need for thorough analysis before drawing conclusions.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Lt. Gen. Dan Caine provided additional details on the use of Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, noting their ability to cause damage without leaving large craters, which complicates satellite-based damage assessments.

Hegseth also addressed questions about the removal of highly enriched uranium before the strikes, dismissing an assertion about trucks in satellite images. He stated the U.S. is monitoring but called out a reporter for misrepresenting intelligence, leading to a diplomatic spat with Fox News correspondent Jen Griffin.

Illustration of Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant before and after June 2025 strikes. — Intelligence agencies confirmed significant damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities from the strikes.

The CIA and Director of National Intelligence publicly disputed claims that only minimal damage occurred, asserting credible intelligence indicates Iran’s nuclear program has been severely impacted and that rebuilding will take years. Gabbard criticized media for selectively leaking classified insights, while Ratcliffe confirmed the destruction of key nuclear sites.

Post-briefing, Trump praised Hegseth’s leadership, calling the conference one of the best he had seen, while publicly denouncing the media’s coverage as an attempt to undermine the success of the operation and its personnel.