Breaking Protocol: White House Pushes Out Israeli Atomic Commission Message, Israel confirms
The White House published the statement in the name of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission, before Israel had said anything about it.
Twitter
In an unprecedented move, the White House has circulated a statement on behalf of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) to American reporters, marking a significant departure from typical diplomatic practice as no such message has been issued directly by Israeli officials. The statement, released today, credits the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities with a major setback to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, offering a stark contrast to earlier conflicting assessments.
The IAEC, the made its won statement through the Prime Minister’s Office, declared that the devastating U.S. strike on the Fordow nuclear site has destroyed its critical infrastructure, rendering the enrichment facility inoperable. The statement asserts, “We estimate that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli attacks on other components of Iran’s military nuclear program, have set back its ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. This achievement will be preserved if Iran is denied access to nuclear material.” This assessment follows Operation Midnight Hammer, launched by the U.S. on June 21, 2025, using B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles, alongside Israel’s strikes starting June 13.
The claim clashes with a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, exposed by CNN earlier this week, which suggested the U.S. strikes only delayed Iran’s program by months, not years, and left key components intact. The White House has not commented on the leak but has pushed back through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who called the DIA assessment “flat-out wrong” and accused a “low-level loser” of undermining the mission. The IAEC’s statement, however, aligns with President Donald Trump’s narrative of a “spectacular success,” though it hinges on preventing Iran’s access to enriched uranium—400 kilograms of which, enriched to 60%, were reportedly moved pre-strike.
This unusual White House move has raised eyebrows, with analysts suggesting it may reflect a coordinated effort to bolster the strike’s perceived impact amid a fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire brokered this week. The IAEA, barred from inspecting sites since June 13, cannot verify the uranium’s status, while two Israeli sources told ABC News it’s premature to call the strikes a success, with one noting Fordow’s damage as “not really good.” The statement’s release without direct Israeli confirmation adds a layer of intrigue, potentially signaling internal divisions or strategic messaging ahead of NATO discussions.