Intercepted Iranian communications suggest officials in Tehran are minimizing the extent of the damage inflicted by recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program, The Washington Post reported Sunday, citing four individuals familiar with classified U.S. intelligence.
While the intercepted discussions appear to downplay the impact, a source speaking to Reuters—who confirmed the authenticity of the intercepts—cautioned that the communications may not reflect the full truth.
“There are serious questions about whether Iranian officials are being candid,” the source said, describing the intercepts as “unreliable indicators” of actual destruction on the ground.
The latest report adds to a growing debate within Washington’s intelligence and defence circles about how effective the strikes were in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. A leaked preliminary assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency reportedly concluded that the strikes may have set Iran’s programme back only by a matter of months, not years.
President Donald Trump, however, maintains that the U.S. military operation achieved its objectives.
"It was obliterated like nobody's ever seen before," Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday. “And that meant the end to their nuclear ambitions, at least for a period of time,” he told Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.
The White House dismissed the Washington Post report as baseless.
“The notion that unnamed Iranian officials know what happened under hundreds of feet of rubble is nonsense. Their nuclear weapons program is over,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Post.
U.S. officials continue to evaluate satellite imagery, seismic data, and other intelligence to determine the full scope of the strike’s impact. Defence analysts note that Iran’s key nuclear facilities, such as the deeply buried Fordow enrichment plant, are fortified to withstand conventional air attacks. That has led to skepticism about whether the operation caused lasting damage to Iran’s most sensitive sites.
The conflicting accounts come amid rising regional tensions and ongoing international concern about Iran’s nuclear intentions. Iran has yet to issue an official assessment of the strike’s consequences, but state media have reported “limited disruption” to technical operations.
As both sides attempt to control the narrative, observers warn that the true state of Iran’s nuclear program may remain unclear for weeks—if not longer.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 30th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Jeannette Jara, Chile’s former labour minister, has emerged as the incumbent government’s presidential candidate after a decisive primary victory, setting up a contest against right-wing rivals in November.
A sweeping tax-cut and spending bill backed by President Donald Trump is advancing through the U.S. Senate, setting the stage for a high-stakes legislative push that could reshape America’s fiscal landscape for years to come.
Apple’s Formula 1-themed drama F1: The Movie surged to the top of the U.S. and Canadian box office the weekend, collecting $55.6 million in ticket sales and marking the company’s most successful cinematic opening to date, according to data from Comscore.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid on Sunday, focusing on enhanced military cooperation, joint defence production, and Ukraine’s bid to begin European Union accession talks.
Canada has scrapped its digital services tax targeting U.S. technology firms just hours before it was set to take effect, in a move aimed at reviving stalled trade negotiations with the United States.
Oil prices fell on Monday as an easing of geopolitical risks in the Middle East and the prospect of another OPEC+ output hike in August improved supply expectations amid persistent uncertainty over the outlook for global demand.
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to attend the opening of a temporary migrant detention centre in southern Florida, as his administration intensifies efforts to increase detentions and deportations.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 30th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Jeannette Jara, Chile’s former labour minister, has emerged as the incumbent government’s presidential candidate after a decisive primary victory, setting up a contest against right-wing rivals in November.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A data transmission failure at Milan's Area Control Center has suspended over 300 flights across northwest Italy since Saturday evening.
Russian courts have imposed detention measures on six Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg in connection with a case dating back to the early 2000s, amid reports of injuries and allegations of coerced confessions.
Israeli forces have detained several individuals in southern Syria suspected of terrorist activity following raids targeting weapons storage sites.
Azerbaijan has cancelled all planned cultural events involving Russian organisations after recent acts of violence against Azerbaijanis in Russia.
Fourteen militants were killed in a security operation following a deadly suicide bombing on a military convoy in northwest Pakistan that left 13 soldiers dead.
More than 1 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since January, amid calls from the interim government to help rebuild the country.
Canada has scrapped its digital services tax targeting U.S. technology firms just hours before it was set to take effect, in a move aimed at reviving stalled trade negotiations with the United States.
Oil prices fell on Monday as an easing of geopolitical risks in the Middle East and the prospect of another OPEC+ output hike in August improved supply expectations amid persistent uncertainty over the outlook for global demand.
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to attend the opening of a temporary migrant detention centre in southern Florida, as his administration intensifies efforts to increase detentions and deportations.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 30th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Jeannette Jara, Chile’s former labour minister, has emerged as the incumbent government’s presidential candidate after a decisive primary victory, setting up a contest against right-wing rivals in November.
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