Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a criminal investigation into the leaking of classified intelligence that undermines the U.S. military’s successful strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, highlighting the latest battleground between Trump’s administration and internal opposition.
Key Takeaways
- The Pentagon and FBI have launched a criminal investigation into the leaking of classified intelligence about the effectiveness of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes as “devastating” and accused CNN and other media outlets of spinning leaked information to discredit President Trump
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned leakers for selectively sharing intelligence with an anti-administration agenda
- The military operation involved seven B-2 bombers dropping 14 bunker buster bombs on Iran’s Fordow nuclear site
- President Trump has declared the mission “very successful” in obliterating Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities
Intelligence Leak Prompts Criminal Investigation
A top-secret Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment regarding the effectiveness of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities has been leaked to media outlets, triggering a formal criminal investigation. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the FBI is now leading the probe into how classified information with potential national security implications made its way to CNN and the New York Times. The leaked assessment claims Iran’s nuclear program remains largely intact despite American airstrikes, suggesting the operation merely delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions by six to twelve months rather than destroying their capabilities outright.
“We’re doing a leak investigation with the FBI right now, because this information is for internal purposes, battle damage assessments, and CNN and others are trying to spin it to make the president look bad,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
⚠️ WARNING: This post contains descriptions of military strikes & potential nuclear proliferation.
An early US intelligence assessment indicates that the recent US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities (Fordow, Natanz, & Isfahan) did not destroy the core… pic.twitter.com/wuhPXoTKEK
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Administration Defends Strike Effectiveness
The Trump administration has forcefully pushed back against the leaked assessment’s conclusions, with top officials emphasizing the mission’s success. Defense Secretary Hegseth described the leaked report as preliminary with “low confidence” findings that don’t reflect the complete picture of damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. According to Hegseth, U.S. military operations caused extensive damage to key Iranian nuclear sites including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, with the first being particularly hard hit by powerful bunker-busting bombs delivered by B-2 stealth bombers.
“Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target — and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the president and the successful mission,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The precise military operation involved seven B-2 bombers that dropped 14 bunker buster bombs specifically targeting the heavily fortified Fordow facility. President Trump has unequivocally declared the operation a resounding success, stating that Iran’s nuclear program is “destroyed.” When questioned about the possibility that Iran might have moved nuclear equipment or enriched uranium before the strikes, Trump dismissed these concerns, asserting, “We think we hit them so hard and so fast, they didn’t get to move,” said President Donald Trump.
Political Motivations Behind the Leak
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has joined Hegseth in condemning both the leak and its framing by certain media outlets, suggesting clear political motivations behind the disclosure. Rubio emphasized the selective nature of the leaked information and how it’s being weaponized against the administration. The timing of the leak, coming shortly after President Trump successfully brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran ending 12 days of aerial strikes, has raised questions about internal efforts to undermine the administration’s foreign policy achievements.
“This is what a leaker is telling you what the intelligence says, that’s the game these people play. They read it and they go out and characterize it the way they want to characterize it the way they want it characterized and they’re leakers, this is the game they play,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
While some experts have aligned with the leaked assessment’s skepticism, others have disputed its conclusions. David Albright from the Institute for Science and International Security has documented significant damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities based on satellite imagery and other sources. The institute’s analysis suggests far more substantial impacts than what the leaked DIA assessment claims, particularly regarding the Fordow facility which received the brunt of the American attack. Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin has similarly affirmed that the operation delivered a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear program.
Diplomatic Achievements Amid Military Action
Despite the controversy surrounding the leaked intelligence, President Trump’s broader diplomatic efforts in the Middle East have yielded tangible results. The successful negotiation of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran marks a significant achievement in regional stability. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has expressed appreciation for Trump’s leadership in managing the Iranian nuclear threat while pursuing peace-focused objectives. This balanced approach of decisive military action combined with diplomatic engagement demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing security threats without escalating into broader regional conflict.
“CNN and others are trying to spin it to make the President look bad when it was an overwhelming success,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
As the FBI’s investigation into the intelligence leak proceeds, the administration continues to emphasize the strategic success of the operation against Iran’s nuclear program. The criminal investigation underscores the serious nature of unauthorized disclosures of classified information, particularly when such leaks appear calculated to undermine national security objectives and presidential authority. For many conservative observers, this incident represents yet another example of entrenched bureaucratic resistance to President Trump’s America-first foreign policy priorities.
