AhlulBayt News Agency: A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment has found that recent American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities failed to dismantle the core components of its nuclear program, contradicting claims made by President Donald Trump and his administration.
The findings, compiled by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), were shared with CNN by four individuals familiar with the classified report.
The assessment, based on a post-strike evaluation by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), challenges Trump’s repeated assertions that the strikes “completely obliterated” Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.
Despite public statements by Trump and the U.S. defense secretary claiming total success, the DIA report indicates that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile remains intact and that the targeted centrifuges suffered minimal damage.
One source told CNN that the strikes may have set Iran’s program back by only a few months at most.
While the White House acknowledged the assessment, it rejected its conclusions, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defending the operation and calling the leak an attempt to undermine Trump and the military.
Leading up to the U.S. strikes, Israel had already launched attacks on Iran, which were met with firm resistance from Iranian forces.
Iran responded to the U.S. aggression with missile strikes on the Al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar, prompting President Trump to announce a ceasefire.
CNN reported that U.S. B-2 bombers dropped over a dozen 30,000-pound bombs on the Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites, but failed to destroy underground centrifuges or uranium stockpiles.
Damage was largely limited to aboveground infrastructure, including power systems and uranium conversion facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Nuclear expert Jeffrey Lewis told CNN that satellite imagery supports the assessment that Iran’s nuclear program remains largely intact.
He noted that key underground facilities near Natanz, Isfahan, and Parchin were not destroyed and could enable Iran to quickly rebuild its program.
Classified briefings for Congress on the operation were abruptly canceled, with the Senate’s session rescheduled for Thursday.
Iranian officials dismissed claims that the nuclear program was obliterated, vowing to continue its peaceful development.
Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said the nuclear industry is deeply rooted in the nation’s scientific infrastructure and cannot be dismantled.
He emphasized that Iran’s nuclear progress will continue despite foreign aggression.
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