U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he ordered a limitation on sharing classified information with Congress shortly after an internal assessment report from the U.S. government on the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities was leaked to the media. The White House reported that a hostile 'Deep State' has intentionally siphoned off information, and the FBI has begun an investigation into the leak.
Political news outlet Axios reported on the 26th (local time), citing multiple senior administration officials, that 'President Trump and White House aides are furious about the classified leak and are considering enhancing access controls for the Classified Information Sharing System (CAPNET).'
The problematic report is a preliminary 'battle damage assessment' drafted by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) immediately after the airstrikes, detailing the aftermath of the U.S. precision strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. This report was posted on CAPNET last Monday, and CNN and The New York Times (NYT) cited its contents the following day.
According to the report, the assessment indicates that Iran's nuclear program has not been destroyed but is delayed by several months. This contradicts President Trump's claim that 'Iran's nuclear facilities have been completely incapacitated' immediately after the airstrikes.
The White House believes that the DIA report is a preliminary analysis based on limited information and that leaking it to the media is a political act intended to undermine the President's national security policy. In fact, the report is said to have been based solely on satellite images and electronic signals at the time of its drafting, lacking on-site investigations, and included the phrase 'low reliability.'
The administration is particularly concerned that this leak could further escalate tensions between the administration and Congress, especially as the Democrats are strongly opposing the failure to share some key information with Congress before the airstrikes. Consequently, it is reported that they are considering reducing the scope of reports posted on CAPNET and implementing procedures for pre-censorship of reports to Congress.
A senior aide said, 'If the media reports come out the day after the information is posted on CAPNET, there is no reason to share information.' Another official noted, 'The President is convinced that there are insiders targeting him within the intelligence agencies.'
Israeli intelligence agencies have assessed that the recent joint airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel have inflicted 'very serious damage' on Iran's nuclear program, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that more time is required for the local nuclear facilities to resume normal operations.
President Trump expressed strong distrust during a press conference in Europe where a NATO summit was held, stating, 'There are spies within the intelligence agencies who don't like me.' He has maintained a tense relationship with intelligence agencies since the early days of his administration due to the Russia scandal investigation and internal leaks, and this situation has further deepened that distrust.
Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio criticized, 'The leakers are interpreting information arbitrarily, and the media is magnifying it.' Secretary Rubio emphasized, 'This airstrike has effectively interrupted Iran's nuclear development, and its effects will be proven by IAEA investigations.'