A new US intelligence report says that Iran’s nuclear program has only been delayed by a few months after a recent US airstrike. This goes against US President Donald Trump’s statement that the program had been “completely obliterated.” Two sources familiar with the report shared this information.
Report Challenges Trump and Netanyahu’s Claims
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) prepared the early assessment on Monday. It disputes statements made by both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had claimed that Iran’s nuclear sites were completely destroyed.
According to the sources—who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly—sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were hit hard. However, they said those facilities were not entirely destroyed.
White House Rejects the Intelligence Report
The White House has rejected the intelligence assessment. In response, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the report was “flat-out wrong.”
She strongly defended the strike. “This leak is clearly aimed at discrediting President Trump and the brave pilots who carried out a flawless strike. Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs directly on target: total obliteration,” Leavitt said.
Iran May Have Moved Uranium Before the Strikes
The DIA report also found that Iran may have moved a large part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile before the airstrikes. This uranium can be used to build a nuclear weapon. Officials believe the material might have been relocated to hidden nuclear sites across Iran.
Damage May Be Less Than First Claimed
The report was based on early damage assessments from US Central Command, which oversees American military activities in the Middle East. It suggests that Trump may have exaggerated the results of the strike when he claimed complete destruction.
Trump Declared Victory After the Airstrikes
On Saturday night, Trump gave a televised speech from the White House after the airstrikes. He said the United States had fully destroyed Iran’s nuclear enrichment centers at Natanz, Fordow—which is located deep underground—and Isfahan, where enriched uranium was stored.
“The strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,” Trump declared.
More Inspections Could Show Even Less Damage
Although this DIA report is only a preliminary assessment, one of the sources noted that Fordow appeared mostly intact within days of the strikes. This suggests that further inspections may reveal even less damage than what early reports showed.