WASHINGTON – A recent U.S. intelligence assessment has revealed that the American airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities earlier this month failed to completely destroy the infrastructure, instead causing only temporary disruptions to Tehran’s nuclear program.
The report, prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), states that while key access points at nuclear sites such as Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were damaged, the core underground facilities—including centrifuge halls and enriched uranium stockpiles—remained largely intact. As a result, Iran is reportedly capable of resuming nuclear activities within one to two months.
The findings challenge earlier claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had declared that the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities using advanced bunker-buster munitions. Trump’s statement, made during a post-ceasefire press briefing, is now being questioned by defense analysts and some in the intelligence community.
The White House, however, has pushed back against the DIA’s conclusions. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the assessment “incomplete and misleading,” asserting that the operation was successful in significantly degrading Iran’s nuclear capacity and sending a strong deterrent message.
Despite the disagreement within U.S. official circles, independent defense experts suggest that the airstrikes did delay Iran’s progress but stopped short of inflicting irreversible damage. They noted that underground nuclear facilities are often heavily fortified and difficult to neutralize through conventional strikes.
The report comes as a fragile ceasefire continues to hold between Iran and Israel, brokered with international mediation after weeks of escalating hostilities. The new revelations may influence ongoing diplomatic discussions, as well as future U.S. policy on non-proliferation and regional security.
Iran has yet to issue an official response to the assessment, although state media previously claimed that its key nuclear assets had been protected in anticipation of possible attacks.
Reported by PakTribune World Desk
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