U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff blasted unnamed sources in a CNN report on Tuesday, accusing them of committing “treason” by leaking intelligence that challenged President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran’s nuclear facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.”
Speaking with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Witkoff slammed the individuals behind the leak, which revealed that the U.S. strikes on Iran may have only temporarily disrupted its nuclear capabilities.
“This leaked intel assessment, it’s an early look at what was actually accomplished on the ground,” Ingraham said. “But someone from the DIA chose to leak it, and it’s all over the media today—saying, ‘Aha, Trump claimed obliteration, but it was only a setback.’”
Witkoff didn’t hold back in his response.
“It goes without saying that leaking that type of classified information is outrageous,” he said. “It’s treasonous. It should be investigated, and whoever’s responsible must be held accountable.”
He added that such disclosures pose serious national security risks:
“This kind of leaking could endanger lives in the future. It’s completely unacceptable.”
CNN’s report cited seven anonymous sources familiar with the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) assessment. According to the report, two sources said Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was not destroyed, and another claimed the country’s centrifuges were mostly “intact.” One official added that some enriched uranium had reportedly been moved before the strikes.
While Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) declined to confirm Trump’s destruction claims, both White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denounced the CNN story as false and politically motivated.
“This so-called assessment is flat-out wrong,” Leavitt said. “It was classified as ‘top secret’ and leaked by an anonymous, low-level loser trying to discredit President Trump and our military.”
CNN has stood by its reporting, noting that other outlets have since corroborated the information.
