US President Donald Trump and the Pentagon rejected reports that Iran moved enriched uranium ahead of the recent US airstrikes on Thursday. They insisted that no intelligence supports such claims.

Trump Insists Iran Removed Nothing

Earlier that morning, Trump posted a firm denial on Truth Social. He dismissed the speculation, saying it lacked evidence. “The cars and small trucks at the site were those of concrete workers trying to cover up the top of the shafts. Nothing was taken out of facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move,” he wrote.

Pentagon Echoes Trump’s Statement

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press conference at the Pentagon. He supported the president’s remarks and denied reports that nuclear materials had been moved.

“I’m not aware of any intelligence that I’ve reviewed that says things were not where they were supposed to be, moved or otherwise,” Hegseth stated.

US Struck Key Iranian Nuclear Sites

Over the weekend, the US launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The military used more than a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs in the operation.

As a result, US officials and analysts are now reviewing how much damage was done and whether Iran’s nuclear program was disrupted.

Experts Suspect Uranium Was Hidden

However, several nuclear experts said Iran likely moved some of its 60% enriched uranium from the Fordow site before the airstrikes. They believe the material—and possibly other sensitive components—may now be hidden in undisclosed locations.

According to them, these sites are still unknown to Israel, the US, and international inspectors.

Satellite Images Show Unusual Activity

In the days leading up to the bombing, satellite images from Maxar Technologies showed unusual vehicle traffic near Fordow. On Thursday and Friday, a long line of vehicles was spotted outside the facility.

Additionally, a senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the enriched uranium had been relocated before the US strike.

Likewise, the Financial Times, citing sources in European capitals, reported that much of Iran’s uranium was not stored at Fordow, and therefore, remains untouched.

Pentagon Pushes Back Against Criticism

In response, Hegseth rejected these reports. He said the media underestimated the success of the operation.

Moreover, he dismissed a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report that claimed the airstrikes only delayed Iran’s program by a few months. He called it a “low-confidence assessment.”

Instead, Hegseth pointed to newer intelligence and cited CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who said Iran’s nuclear infrastructure suffered serious damage and would take years to rebuild.

General Caine Shares Bomb Test Details

At the same press briefing, General Dan Caine, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shared technical details. He explained how the bunker-buster bombs were tested on mock bunkers similar to those struck in Iran.

He also showed a video demonstration of one such test.

Caine Avoids Personal Judgment

However, Caine refused to give his own opinion about the mission’s overall success. Instead, he said that job belonged to the intelligence community.

Importantly, he stressed that he had not been pressured by anyone in the government to present a more favorable view.

“I’ve never been pressured by the president or the secretary to do anything other than tell them exactly what I’m thinking, and that’s exactly what I’ve done,” Reuters quoted him as saying.