"Natasha Bertrand should be fired by CNN! I have been watching her fake news reporting for 3 days. This reporter should be reprimanded immediately and be terminated," former US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on 25/6.

In a report aired on 25/6, Bertrand cited sources familiar with a classified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report assessing that the US strikes had only set back Iran's nuclear program by "a few months," not destroyed it. Much of Iran's highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons, had been moved before the attacks and is being stored at other undisclosed nuclear sites, the report said.

Several other US media outlets also reported this information.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that the leak of the intelligence assessment was an attempt to "discredit President Trump and smear the pilots who executed a flawless mission to wipe out Iran's nuclear program."

According to Trump, the CNN reporter was "trying to denigrate our patriotic pilots by making them look bad."

"She should not be allowed to work at fake news CNN. People like her have destroyed the reputation of a once great news network. Besides having a negative perspective, she doesn’t have the skills necessary to be an on-air reporter. Fire Natasha now," Trump added.

Former US President Donald Trump during a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on 25/6. Photo: AFP

Former US President Donald Trump during a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on 25/6. Photo: AFP

CNN issued a statement on 25/6 expressing support for Bertrand's reporting, particularly her and her colleagues' reports on the initial intelligence assessment regarding the US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.

"The report also made clear that these were initial assessments and could change as more intelligence became available," a CNN spokesperson said. "We do not think it is appropriate to criticize CNN reporters for accurately reporting on the existence of this intelligence assessment, or for accurately characterizing the findings in it."

The US launched airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities on 22/6 in an operation called "Midnight Hammer." Satellite imagery revealed significant damage at the Isfahan facility. Large craters were visible at the Fordow and Natanz facilities, indicative of bunker-busting bombs.

US and Israeli officials have repeatedly asserted that the strikes dealt a significant blow to Iran's nuclear program, with some suggesting that Tehran's "nuclear bomb-making plans" would be delayed by at least a few years.

Meanwhile, observers note that it is difficult to fully assess the damage to Iran, especially given that critical infrastructure at the Fordow facility is located deep underground. The DIA is not the only agency tasked with this assessment.

Huyen Le (According to The Hill, CNN)