The leak infuriated Donald Trump and top defense officials, who argued the intelligence report was incomplete and prematurely publicised.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday accused congressional Democrats of leaking classified information about recent American military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Without providing evidence, Trump demanded that those responsible be prosecuted.
“The Democrats are the ones who leaked the information on the PERFECT FLIGHT to the Nuclear Sites in Iran. They should be prosecuted,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Speaking from the East Room of the White House, Trump also lashed out at the media for its coverage of the leaked intelligence and urged that the journalists involved be fired.
Leaked Report Sparks Outrage
The leak in question involves a preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which suggested that the U.S. airstrikes—part of “Operation Midnight Hammer”—may not have dealt a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear capabilities, as the administration had initially claimed, according to AFP.
The report’s release enraged Trump and top defense officials, who argued that the intelligence was incomplete and should not have been made public. In response, the White House announced tighter restrictions on classified information shared with Congress—drawing swift criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
Trump Administration Ramps Up Defense
At a Pentagon press briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced Trump’s claims of success:
“President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating—obliterating—Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” he said.
Hegseth also criticized media coverage of the DIA report, singling out outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times for what he called “fawning coverage of a preliminary assessment.”
“It was leaked by someone with an agenda to discredit a historic strike,” he said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also took aim at the press, calling the Iran strikes “one of the most successful operations in United States history.” She accused CNN reporter Natasha Bertrand—who was among the first to report the leak—of being manipulated by anti-Trump sources within the government.
CNN responded by stating it stood firmly behind Bertrand and her reporting.
Operation Midnight Hammer: A Show of Force
Operation Midnight Hammer took place last weekend and involved a series of coordinated strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities. U.S. B-2 stealth bombers dropped over a dozen GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on the Fordow and Natanz sites, while Tomahawk missiles launched from a U.S. Navy submarine struck the Isfahan complex.
The U.S. offensive followed an Israeli air campaign on June 13 targeting Iranian nuclear scientists, military figures, and enrichment infrastructure. While Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, the U.S. and its allies have long accused Tehran of pursuing atomic weapons.
A Shift from Diplomacy to Force
During his first term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and had initially pushed for a renegotiated agreement. However, following escalating tensions and failed diplomatic efforts, the president ultimately chose military action.
Despite the controversy over the leaked intelligence, Trump remains steadfast in his claim that the strikes were a “spectacular military success.”
