Iran's nuclear facilities have not been destroyed, says US intelligence report

 

Iran's nuclear facilities have not been destroyed, says US intelligence report

A U.S. airstrike on three Iranian nuclear facilities last weekend did not destroy the core of the country's nuclear program and only delayed Iran's plans for several months, according to a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment. Seven sources have confirmed this information.

The Pentagon's intelligence arm, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), produced the report, which has not been previously published. One of the sources said the analysis was based on the war damage assessment conducted by the US Central Command after the attack.

The impact and damage of the attack is still being assessed and could change as new intelligence comes in. "But the preliminary results contradict claims by President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said Iran's enriched uranium facilities were" "totally destroyed" "in the attack." "Defence Minister Pete Hegseth also said on Sunday (22 June) that Iran's nuclear ambitions had been" "dashed." ""

Two sources familiar with the assessment said Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium had not been destroyed. "One said the centrifuges were mostly" "intact." ""

Another source said Iran had removed its enriched uranium facilities before the attack.

"" "The DIA's assessment is that the United States has pushed Iran back a few months, at best." '

The White House has acknowledged the existence of the assessment, but disagrees. "White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said in a statement to CNN," "This so-called assessment is completely inaccurate and was classified 'Top Secret,' yet it was leaked to CNN by a low-level individual in the intelligence community." "" "" "The sole purpose of this assessment leak is to belittle President Trump and to belittle the brave fighter pilots who carried out the perfect mission to destroy Iran's nuclear program." "" Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs on the right target: total destruction. '

"However, the US military said the operation went according to plan and was an" "overwhelming success." ""

Time is still needed to get a full picture of the impact of the attacks, and no source has said how different the DIA's assessment is compared to other intelligence agencies. The United States continues to collect intelligence from Iran, including damage assessments.

Israel had attacked Iran's nuclear facilities in the days before the US military operation, but claimed that the US needed a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb to completely destroy Iran's facilities. Although US B-2 bombers dropped bombs on the Fordow enrichment plant and the Natanz enrichment complex, the sources said the centrifuges and highly enriched uranium were not completely destroyed.

At all three sites - Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan - the damage was largely confined to above-ground structures, which were severely damaged, the sources said. These include power infrastructure and above-ground facilities for turning uranium into metal for making bombs.

Israel's assessment of the impact of the US strike also found less damage than expected at Fordow. But Israeli officials believe that a joint US-Israeli military strike on multiple facilities has delayed Iran's nuclear program by two years - if it can rebuild unhindered, which Israel will not accept. But before the US military operation, Israel publicly stated that Iran's program had been delayed for two years.

"" "Based on what we've seen, our bombing campaign has completely destroyed Iran's nuclear weapons capability," "Defense Minister Hegseth told CNN." Our huge bombs hit every target in the right place and worked perfectly. The impact of that bomb is now buried under the rubble of Iran. So, anyone who says the bombs were not destructive is just trying to undermine President Trump and this successful mission. '

"On Tuesday morning, Trump reiterated his belief about the damage from the attack, saying," "I think it's completely destroyed." "" U.S. pilots hit their targets. The targets were completely destroyed, and credit should be given to the pilots. '

"When asked about the possibility of rebuilding Iran's nuclear program, Trump said," "That place is now under a rock." "" It has become a ruin. '

Trump and Hegseth Hamm