US President Donald Trump has lashed out at congressional Democrats, accusing them of leaking classified details about US military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and calling for those responsible to be prosecuted. His remarks came after the leak of an intelligence assessment suggesting that the strikes may not have been as damaging to Iran’s nuclear program as the administration had claimed, triggering a wave of anger within Donald Trump’s circle and escalating the administration’s offensive against critics.
Donald Trump Accuses Democrats of Leaking Classified Details
Taking to Truth Social, Donald Trump alleged without providing evidence that Democrats were responsible for leaking what he described as the “perfect flight” plans to Iranian nuclear sites, arguing they should face prosecution for jeopardising national security. He also criticised the media for its coverage of the leaked report, demanding that journalists involved in publishing details of the document be fired.
The leaked document, reportedly from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), offered a preliminary assessment indicating that America’s Operation Midnight Hammer, which involved targeted strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, may not have significantly impacted Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, despite the administration’s assertions of success.
White House officials, angered by the leak, argued that the intelligence report was incomplete and should not have been made public at such an early stage. In response, the administration announced tighter controls on classified information shared with Congress, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers who claim it undermines oversight responsibilities.
Administration Defends Iran Strikes Amid Criticism
At a Pentagon press conference, senior Donald Trump ally Pete Hegseth defended the administration’s actions, describing the strikes as a “spectacular military success” that had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He criticised the media’s coverage of the leaked report, accusing major outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times of favouring a narrative that undermines the administration’s achievements.
Hegseth suggested that the leak was politically motivated, claiming it was intended to cast doubt on the success of the historic strikes. “It was leaked because someone had an agenda to try to muddy the waters and make it look like this historic strike wasn’t successful,” he said, underscoring the administration’s frustration with the timing and portrayal of the report.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended the Iran operation, labelling it as one of the most successful in US history, while criticising CNN reporter Natasha Bertrand, who reported on the leaked assessment. Leavitt claimed Bertrand was being “used by people who dislike Donald Trump in this government to push fake and false narratives.” In response, CNN stated it stands by Bertrand and her reporting.
Operation Midnight Hammer and Rising Tensions
The strikes under Operation Midnight Hammer were carried out by American B-2 stealth bombers, which dropped more than a dozen GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz. A third facility, Isfahan, was targeted with Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a US Navy submarine.
These strikes followed an unprecedented air campaign by Israel on June 13, which targeted Iranian nuclear scientists, military leaders, and enrichment facilities. While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for civilian use, the United States and its allies have long accused Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities.
Initially, Donald Trump had sought to replace the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with a new diplomatic framework after withdrawing from the agreement during his first term. However, following rising tensions and failed negotiations, the administration opted for military action, signalling a significant escalation in its approach to countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
