The US strikes on Iran‘s nuclear facilities did not destroy the country’s Nuclear Program and probably only set it back by months, according to an early Pentagon intelligence assessment of the attack.
The Islamic Republic’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not eliminated in the bombings, sources familiar with the Defense Intelligence Agency evaluation told CBS.
The White House has disputed this assessment, with President Donald Trump declaring that the nuclear sites in Iran were “completely destroyed” and accusing the media of “an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history”.
However, sources familiar with the Pentagon’s intelligence assessment say Iran’s centrifuges are largely “intact” and the impact was limited to aboveground structures.
Entrances to two nuclear facilities were sealed off, and some infrastructure was destroyed or damaged, but much of the facilities, which are deep underground, escaped the brunt of the blasts.
The anonymous sources told US media it is estimated the attack only set Iran back “a few months, tops”, and that any resumption of its nuclear programme may be based on how long it takes the country to dig out and make repairs.
Satellite images showed six fresh craters clustered around two entry points at the Fordo nuclear sites, as well as grey dust and debris. However, it is unclear from the images how much damage the sites sustained below the surface.
Hassan Abedini, the deputy political director of Iran’s state broadcaster, claimed the three sites targeted by the US had been evacuated a “while ago”, and that Iran “didn’t suffer a major blow because the materials had already been taken out”.
US officials, on the other hand, hailed the mission as a success, as have Israeli officials. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that “based on everything we have seen – and I’ve seen it all – our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons”.
However, US Congressman Brad Sherman, a Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, questioned the administration’s claims, saying they were using vague terms to declare victory.
David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security and an expert on secret nuclear weapons development, said the damage Iran sustained from the US attacks will mean “it will take significant time, investment and energy” for it to restore its nuclear programme. In a post on X, Albright added that Iran is “under intense scrutiny and observation from the United States and Israel”, and it risks further attacks if it tries to rebuild.
The US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have significant implications for the region and the world. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the US military strikes and the potential consequences for the global security landscape.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Iran will respond to the attacks and what the long-term impact will be on its nuclear programme.