Gabbard Says Iran’s Nuclear Sites Destroyed, Blasts Media Propaganda
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has confirmed that Iran’s major nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan were “destroyed” in the recent U.S. airstrikes and would take “years” to rebuild. Gabbard’s statement strongly supports President Donald Trump’s earlier claim of a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear capabilities and directly counters media reports suggesting minimal damage.
In a post shared on X, Gabbard declared, “New intelligence confirms what @POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed.” She added that the scale of destruction was so extensive that Iran’s ability to restore these facilities in the short term is virtually nonexistent. Gabbard further accused several media outlets of spreading misinformation by highlighting low-confidence intelligence reports and omitting crucial context.
Iran Nuclear Sites “Obliterated”
Gabbard said the operation—code-named Operation Midnight Hammer—was executed with precision using deep-penetration munitions and cruise missiles, specifically designed to neutralize fortified underground enrichment complexes. The strikes reportedly targeted core infrastructure, leaving control centers, centrifuge halls, and power grids severely compromised.
She reiterated that contrary to leaked assessments suggesting Iran’s nuclear capabilities were only “set back by months,” the actual intelligence gathered points to multi-year disruptions. Her position was echoed by other top officials who emphasized that the intelligence was based on high-confidence sources with strong historical accuracy.
Media Accused of Distorting Narrative
Gabbard launched a fierce attack on the media, accusing it of selectively leaking parts of preliminary Pentagon reports that carried the label “low confidence.” She claimed these leaks were intended to create doubt around the success of the operation and to discredit the administration’s national security narrative.
Calling the press coverage a coordinated “propaganda campaign,” Gabbard said the intelligence community was now being forced to defend not just operational facts, but also its credibility. She noted that discussions were underway to tighten how classified assessments are shared with Congress to prevent politicized leaks.
Strategic Impact and the Path Forward
With Iran continuing to assert that its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian use, verification of damage remains elusive due to restricted access. However, officials in Washington maintain that the level of structural damage to Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan would significantly limit any enrichment activity in the near term.
President Trump, speaking from the NATO summit, praised the strikes and warned of “severe consequences” if Iran attempts to restart construction. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backed this, calling the operation a deterrent against rogue nuclear ambitions.
Gabbard’s statements mark a rare moment where the top U.S. intelligence official is openly confronting media narratives in real time. As geopolitical tensions continue, the contrasting portrayals of the Iran strikes—one of decisive military success, the other of limited impact—now define a broader struggle for narrative control in U.S. foreign policy.
