**US Envoy Condemns Leak of Intel Undercutting Trump’s Iran Strike Claims**
The US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has strongly condemned the leak of a classified intelligence assessment that contradicts President Donald Trump’s claims of having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program. The leaked report, which was obtained by CNN, suggests that the recent strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites did not destroy the core of Tehran’s nuclear program.
According to the leaked assessment, the attacks likely delayed Iran’s progress by only a few months. This contradicts Trump’s public statements, including his claim that the operation delivered “total obliteration.” The report also found that most of the centrifuges and enriched uranium stockpile remained intact, despite Trump’s assertion that the targets were completely destroyed.
Witkoff, who served as Assistant to the President during the recent conflict between Israel and Iran, defended Trump’s portrayal of the US-led strikes as a decisive success. He claimed that the objective was to eliminate enrichment in Iran, and that Trump achieved this goal. However, his comments have been met with skepticism by others.
**Leaked Report Contradicts Public Statements**
The leaked report contradicts not only Trump’s public statements but also those of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who described the operation as delivering “total obliteration.” The assessment was leaked to CNN despite being classified as “top secret.”
Witkoff dismissed the report as “preposterous,” insisting that the Isfahan conversion facility, critical to Iran’s ability to weaponize enriched uranium, was completely destroyed by a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb. However, experts have questioned this claim, citing concerns about the effectiveness of such a massive bomb in destroying underground infrastructure.
**White House Dismisses Leaked Report**
The White House has strongly dismissed the leaked report, calling it “flat-out wrong” and accusing an anonymous intelligence official of leaking classified information to CNN. The press secretary also accused those who leaked the report of attempting to discredit President Trump and demean the brave fighter pilots who conducted the mission.
**Trump Stands by His Assessment**
Despite the leaked report and criticisms from others, Trump has stood firm in his assessment of the mission’s success. He claimed that the targets were obliterated and praised the pilots for their bravery.
However, not everyone agrees with Trump’s assessment. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine expressed caution, saying it was “way too early” to determine whether Iran retained nuclear capabilities.
**Conclusion**
The leak of this intelligence assessment has raised questions about the effectiveness of the US-led strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. While Witkoff and the White House have defended Trump’s portrayal of the mission as a decisive success, others have expressed caution and skepticism. The controversy surrounding the leaked report serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in government and the need for accurate intelligence assessments.
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