Trump admin plans tighter intelligence restrictions after Iran strike leak
The Trump administration is set to impose stricter controls on sharing classified information with Congress following a leaked Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, according to Axios.
The report, accessed via CAPNET, suggested that recent US bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities were less effective than claimed by President Trump, who had described the strikes as having "obliterated" Iran's nuclear programme.
The leaked DIA “Battle Damage Assessment” revealed that Iran’s nuclear program was only delayed by months, with enriched uranium stockpiles and centrifuges remaining largely intact. This contradicts Trump’s claims of significant damage, prompting outrage within the White House and an FBI investigation into the leak.
White House declares 'war on leakers'
A senior White House official confirmed efforts to curb leaks, describing the situation as a "war on leakers."
The administration alleges the leak was politically motivated, citing the DIA report’s reliance on satellite imagery and its “low confidence” assessment.
Plans to limit congressional access to intelligence are underway, a move likely to escalate tensions with Democrats already frustrated by limited pre-strike briefings.
Trump and allies downplay findings
Speaking at a NATO summit, President Trump, alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, dismissed the leaked assessment. Trump insisted the strikes caused “very significant” damage, comparing them to the U.S. nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Hegseth, who previously claimed Iran’s nuclear ambitions were “obliterated,” adjusted his stance, describing the damage as “moderate to severe.” Rubio criticised the leak, accusing leakers of mischaracterizing intelligence for political gain.
CNN report fuels Trump’s ire
A CNN report by journalists Natasha Bertrand, Katie Bo Lillis, and Zachary Cohen, based on the DIA assessment, further challenged the administration’s narrative. It highlighted limited surface damage at Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities, with no significant impact on enriched uranium reserves. Trump lashed out on Truth Social, demanding Bertrand’s removal and labelling CNN a “fake news network.” CNN defended Bertrand, emphasizing the public’s right to know the assessment’s findings.
Independent analysis questions strike efficacy
Independent experts, including Jeffrey Lewis from the Middlebury Institute, supported the DIA’s findings, noting that Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, including those near Natanz and Isfahan, sustained minimal damage. Iranian officials, including Behrouz Kamalvandi of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, iterated that the strikes were symbolic and that Iran’s nuclear program remains on track.
Source: Al Mayadeen
