A recent U.S. intelligence report has revealed that Iran’s nuclear program has only been set back by a few months following a U.S. military strike, contradicting claims made by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The report, released by the Defense Intelligence Agency, suggests that while the strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites did cause significant damage, they did not completely destroy the facilities as previously stated.
Sources familiar with the report shared that the strikes targeted the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. Although the damage was considerable, the assessment indicates that some of Iran’s highly enriched uranium had been moved to other locations before the attacks, and many centrifuges remain intact. At the Fordo facility, which is deeply buried, the entrance collapsed and infrastructure was damaged, but the underground facilities themselves survived.
The White House responded strongly to the report, labeling it "flat-out wrong." Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the leaks as an attempt to undermine President Trump and the military’s actions, asserting that the bombing campaign had indeed obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Trump himself has reiterated that the strikes left the sites "totally destroyed" and insisted that Iran would not be able to rebuild its nuclear facilities.
Despite the strong statements from the White House, the Pentagon acknowledged the existence of the DIA assessment but maintained that the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear program was substantial. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the bombing campaign had effectively eliminated Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.
The report has sparked debate within U.S. intelligence circles, with some officials expressing disagreement over the assessment’s conclusions. The CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have not commented on the report, which was first reported by CNN.
Democratic leaders have also questioned Trump’s assertions, stating that there is no evidence to support claims of a complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear program. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized that the evidence does not back up the president’s statements.
As the situation unfolds, the intelligence community is expected to continue assessing the damage at the affected sites, with various agencies involved in the evaluation. The complexities surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the recent military actions highlight the ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges faced by U.S. intelligence in providing accurate assessments.