One official quoted in the report calls the setback for Iran’s nuclear program “temporary at best”.

White House doubles down on ‘obliteration’ claims

“Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”

Apart from reposting earlier victory messages, President Donald Trump quoted United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in a post on his Truth Social account.

Donald Trump has sharply criticised leaked intelligence reports that have undermined his claims about the damage recent US airstrikes inflicted on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Credit: Truth Social

“We put 12 bunker buster bombs on Fordow. There’s no doubt that it breached the canopy … and there’s no doubt that it was OBLITERATED. So, the reporting out there that in some way suggests that we did not achieve the objective is just completely preposterous!” the post said.

What Iran might do next

“I think we should assume that has happened.”