FACT CHECK #QRUKO3HS

WHAT WE FOUND

In early 2026, the Trump administration launched Operation Epic Fury with the specific objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear program 4 9. Following the operation, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified to Congress that the airstrikes had "obliterated" Iran's enrichment capabilities 2. President Trump corroborated this, stating he had "decimated" the program through conventional means rather than nuclear weapons 8. However, this assessment is not universally shared within the government. A preliminary, classified report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) stated that the bombing only sealed off entrances to facilities and set the nuclear program back by a few months rather than ending it 2. While the administration asserted in February 2026 that Iran was within days of building a bomb 3, critics argue that the risk of Iran reaching that stage increased after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, which had previously extended the "breakout time" to one year 1 10. Therefore, while Trump took direct military action to stop Iran's progress, the long-term efficacy of these strikes remains a point of significant internal intelligence debate 2.

SOURCES

1. 1 · pbs.orgFACT-CHECKER
   Fact-checking Trump's comments that a 2015 deal gave Iran the right to nuclear weapons | PBS News

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2. 2 · factcheck.orgFACT-CHECKER
   FactChecking Trump's Prime-Time Address on Iran - FactCheck.org

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3. 3 · nytimes.comFACT-CHECKER
   Fact-check: In Trump’s Case for an Attack on Iran, False or Unproven Claims - The New York Times

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4. 4 · whitehouse.govACADEMIC
   President Trump’s Clear and Unchanging Objectives Drive Decisive Success Against Iranian Regime

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5. 5 · news.abplive.comFACT-CHECKER
   US Iran Live Updates Fact Check Was Donald Trump Stopped From Using Nuclear Codes On Iran Here's The Truth

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6. 6 · hindustantimes.comFACT-CHECKER
   Did Trump want to use nuclear codes in Iran? Did Dan Caine stop him? Ex-CIA analyst's claim fact checked | Hindustan Times

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7. 7 · npr.orgACADEMIC
   U.S. and Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire, suspending Trump's threat to annihilate Iran

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8. 8 · thehill.comWEB
   Trump says no nuclear weapon will be used on Iran

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9. 9 · theatlantic.comWEB
   Trump's Iran Deal Gives Him Nothing He Wanted - The Atlantic

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10. 10 · responsiblestatecraft.orgWEB
    Killing the Iran nuclear deal was one of Trump's biggest failures | Responsible Statecraft

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