At the NATO summit in The Hague, President Donald Trump made some bold claims about the recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. He insisted the operation was nothing short of a “total obliteration” — pushing back against early intelligence reports that suggested the damage might only delay Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by a few months.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump was firm: “I believe it was total obliteration.” According to him, the strikes weren’t just a setback — they effectively wiped out years, maybe decades, of progress on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
What the Intelligence Said vs. Trump’s Take
But here’s where things get interesting. A preliminary report from the Defense Intelligence Agency and U.S. Central Command raised some eyebrows. Two sources familiar with the classified analysis told ABC News that the strikes may have caused limited damage, pointing out that Iran reportedly moved some of its highly enriched uranium stockpiles before the bombings. This raised doubts about how effective the strikes really were.
Still, Trump dismissed these doubts out of hand, arguing that the rapid pace of the operation didn’t give Iran a chance to evacuate their materials. “If it would have taken two weeks, maybe,” he said. “But it’s very hard to remove that kind of material, very hard and very dangerous. Plus, they knew we were coming.”
He doubled down on the claim that inside the targeted facilities, everything had “collapsed.” The president painted a picture of a nuclear program in ruins — so much so that nobody could even inspect the aftermath because of the total destruction.
Support from Top Officials
Trump wasn’t alone in pushing this narrative. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed up the president, emphasizing the sheer scale of the strike. “Given the 30,000 pounds of explosives and the capability of those munitions, it was devastation underneath Fordo,” Hegseth said, referring to one of the nuclear sites.
Hegseth added that the preliminary intelligence report was “top secret,” “low confidence,” and “preliminary” — implying the leaked details shouldn’t be taken at face value. He suggested the leak itself might be politically motivated and revealed that the FBI was investigating the source.
Senator Marco Rubio also weighed in, calling the leaks “professional stabbers” who twist classified information for political gain. Rubio insisted the strikes led to “complete and total obliteration” and that the narrative suggesting otherwise was false.
Iranian Reaction
Iran didn’t stay silent. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, confirmed to the Associated Press that their nuclear facilities were “badly damaged.” So, even Tehran acknowledges significant harm, though they have yet to reveal the full scope or long-term effects.
Political Pushback in Washington
Not surprisingly, Trump’s critics in Washington offered a more cautious assessment. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons expressed skepticism about the claimed success of the strikes, emphasizing it was too early to tell how much damage was actually inflicted.
Shaheen, who holds senior roles on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, pointed fingers at Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal during his first term. She suggested that if the U.S. had stuck with that agreement, the recent conflict might have been avoided.
She also warned that Iran could be doubling down on its nuclear ambitions, especially watching North Korea’s progress. “They will do everything possible to get there as quickly as possible,” Shaheen said, suggesting a renewed race for nuclear weapons might be on the horizon.
The Ceasefire and Trump’s Diplomatic Spin
Despite ongoing clashes, Trump insisted the ceasefire was “going very well.” He acknowledged that fighting continued into Tuesday but expressed pride in Israel’s restraint after they responded to what they perceived as a violation.
“They came back yesterday,” Trump said. “I was so proud of them.” He characterized the conflict between Israel and Iran like two kids in a schoolyard—fighting fiercely for a bit, but eventually tiring out and stopping.
The president described the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites as the decisive moment that “ended the war.” He even likened it to the atomic bombings of Japan during World War II — carefully avoiding naming Hiroshima or Nagasaki but making the parallel clear.
“If we didn’t take that out, they would have been fighting right now,” Trump warned.
What’s Next?
Asked about whether Iran could rebuild its nuclear program or if the U.S. would strike again, Trump shrugged off responsibility: “That would be someone else’s problem. I’m not going to have to worry about that.”
He predicted it would be “very tough to rebuild” because “the whole thing is collapsed inside.” Still, he hinted that diplomatic relations might be possible, noting that both sides agreed to the ceasefire “very equally” after his recent talks with Iranian officials.
“I think we’ll end up having somewhat of a relationship with Iran,” he said, reflecting a rare moment of optimism amid the tension.
Key Takeaways:
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Trump insists the U.S.-Israeli strikes caused “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear program — setting it back “years, decades.”
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A preliminary intelligence report suggests the damage may be limited, but leaked details are under FBI investigation for political motives.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Senator Marco Rubio support Trump’s strong claims, dismissing leaks as false.
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Iran admits to “badly damaged” facilities but hasn’t fully disclosed the impact.
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Democrats urge caution, blaming Trump’s earlier withdrawal from the nuclear deal for current instability.
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Trump compares the strike’s effect to WWII atomic bombings and sees the ceasefire as holding — hopeful for future diplomacy.
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He distances himself from future actions, saying rebuilding Iran’s program is “someone else’s problem.”
This whole saga highlights how intelligence, politics, and public messaging collide on the world stage — with facts sometimes murky and rhetoric powerful. Whether the strikes truly set Iran back for years or just months remains to be seen, but for now, the White House is riding high on its narrative of decisive victory.
If you want the full scoop or updates as this story unfolds, I’m here to help break it down anytime.
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