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Republican senators advised Fox Information Digital that after receiving a fuller intelligence report on airstrikes approved by President Donald Trump in opposition to Iran’s nuclear services that they imagine the preliminary leaked reviews underestimating the harm had been inaccurate and politically motivated.
“I believe the leaked intelligence report was not correct, and given the 14 bunker-buster bombs that had been dropped on the Iranian nuclear weapons facility, I believe that the clear proof is the harm was overwhelming,” stated Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
In response to why so many media shops ran with the leaked story, Cruz advised Fox Information Digital that “clearly there was a political agenda at play.”
Earlier this week, CNN, citing individuals aware of the evaluation, reported that the early consensus inside the Protection Intelligence Company is that the strikes on Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan didn’t destroy key elements of Iran’s nuclear program nor destroy its stockpile of extremely enriched uranium.
TRUMP TOUTS ADMINISTRATION’S PROGRESS ON PEACE DEALS, SAYS WORLD LEADERS ‘RESPECT OUR COUNTRY AGAIN’
Republican Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), in addition to Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen talked to Fox Information Digital concerning the intelligence assessments on the Iran airstrikes. (AP Picture/Jose Luis Magana and screencap from Forbes footage and AP)
The outlet additionally reported that the strike doubtless solely set again Iran’s nuclear program by a number of months, not years, as touted by the Trump administration.
Trump and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth railed in opposition to the “faux information” media throughout a NATO summit press convention for casting doubt that the U.S. strikes on Iran obliterated the nation’s nuclear program.
“An announcement got here in from the Atomic Vitality Fee of Israel,” Trump stated throughout a Wednesday press convention from The Hague as he wrapped up his NATO summit journey within the Netherlands. “They’re very severe individuals, as you already know.”
“‘The devastating U.S. strike on Fordow destroyed the location’s vital infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility completely inoperable,'” Trump learn from the letter. “‘It was devastated. We assessed that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear services had set again Iran’s capability to develop nuclear weapons for a few years to return. This achievement can proceed indefinitely if Iran doesn’t get entry to nuclear materials.'”
HEGSETH TEARS INTO REPORTERS, ALLEGING THEY ‘CHEER AGAINST TRUMP’ AND IRAN STRIKES
Trump stated on Saturday that the US had accomplished a “very profitable” strike in opposition to Iranian nuclear websites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, saying that Iran’s nuclear enrichment installations have been “obliterated.” (Fox Information)
Senators acquired a labeled intelligence briefing on the strikes from high nationwide safety officers on Thursday.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., advised Fox Information Digital that widespread reporting on the leaked report was to “attempt to undermine Trump, after all.”
“Pay attention, we walked by means of this within the briefing, with out moving into issues I should not discuss. Principally, that isn’t an correct image, and it did not purport to be,” stated Hawley. “What they had been quoting was truly not a full intelligence report; it was extra akin to an after-action, early evaluation guess. So, with out saying extra, mainly it was very misrepresented.”
“And the factor is,” he went on, “any reporter who covers the Pentagon and covers nationwide safety, they’d know that. So, I’ve to say, sort of unhealthy religion, I believe, by our reporter pals within the liberal media who’re clearly simply attempting to undermine the president.”
TRUMP ACCUSES AYATOLLAH OF ‘LIE’ ON IRAN STRIKE: ‘HIS COUNTRY WAS DECIMATED’
This satellite tv for pc picture offered by Maxar Applied sciences exhibits harm on the Fordow enrichment facility in Iran after U.S. strikes, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Maxar Applied sciences by way of AP)
Not less than one Democratic senator, in the meantime, was additionally happy with what was stated through the briefing.
“Most of my questions had been answered. I believe it was an excellent briefing,” stated Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. “I believe Iran mustn’t have a nuclear weapon. Hopefully, this has set again that program dramatically. And in the end, we’ll see them go to the negotiating desk, as a result of that is the true long-term resolution.”
Whereas many Democrats have referred to as the strikes an unconstitutional transfer by the president, Shaheen stated, “it was a restricted, contained strike” and “I believe if it dramatically set again Iran’s nuclear program – preliminary reviews are that it has – that’s an excellent factor.”
Different Democratic senators, nonetheless, had been nonetheless not so mollified by the briefing.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., advised Fox Information Digital that the briefing “has not modified” his prior evaluation that the strikes had been a “clear violation of our Structure” and that “Trump is but once more betraying Individuals by embroiling the US instantly on this battle.”
TRUMP WOULD STRIKE IRAN ‘WITHOUT QUESTION’ IF IT RESTARTS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Donald Trump (Workplace of the Iranian Supreme Chief/WANA (West Asia Information Company)/Handout by way of Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz/File Picture)
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., advised Fox Information Digital that the briefing “did not change my view, however I believe I would somewhat simply depart it there, as a result of it is all labeled.”
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Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., was extra imprecise on whether or not his opinion had been modified.
“I am unable to inform you what I discovered in a labeled briefing. I can inform you that it was damaging,” stated Coons. “We don’t but have a full and full image of precisely what capabilities had been degraded or destroyed and what extra dangers we might face or what choices the Iranian regime might make.”
Fox Information Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
