Trump denies Iran moved nuclear materials before strikes, says workers covered shafts

ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump rejected Thursday reports that Iran evacuated nuclear materials before weekend airstrikes, claiming workers at the sites were covering shafts rather than removing uranium stockpiles.

"The cars and small trucks at the site were those of concrete workers trying to cover up the top of the shafts," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Nothing was taken out of facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!" he added.

Multiple reports indicated Iran took significant preparatory measures before the strikes, with satellite imagery showing trucks near nuclear facilities.

Iranian officials confirmed the Fordo facility was evacuated and cleared ahead of the assault.

While CNN reported intelligence suggesting strikes at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities only set back the program by months, US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said Wednesday that "new intelligence confirms" Iran's nuclear facilities were “destroyed.”

Iran acknowledged Wednesday that nuclear installations were "badly damaged," while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office assessed the strikes set back Iran's weapons development "by many years."

Trump has consistently claimed Iran's nuclear facilities were "obliterated" in the weekend operation targeting the three key sites.