**US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities Did Not Eliminate Tehran’s Program, Intel Agency Finds**
The recent US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of Tehran’s nuclear program, according to a report by CNN. The assessment was made by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which found that the strikes likely delayed Iran’s nuclear program by only a few months.
This contradicts public statements made by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who claimed that the operation had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, sources familiar with the findings told CNN that the DIA assessment was based on a battle damage report from US Central Command, which showed that most of the centrifuges at the targeted sites were still intact.
The White House strongly denied the assessment, calling it “flat-out wrong.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused an anonymous source in the intelligence community of leaking the information to CNN, saying it was a clear attempt to discredit President Trump and the brave fighter pilots who conducted the mission.
President Trump stood by his initial assessment, saying that the targets had been “completely demolished” and that Iran’s nuclear program was under a rock. However, others expressed caution about the success of the operation. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said it was too early to determine whether Iran retained nuclear capabilities, while Republican Rep. Michael McCaul noted that the US strikes were never meant to completely destroy the nuclear facilities.
**Analysis: A Temporary Setback for Iran?**
The DIA assessment suggests that Iran’s nuclear program may be more resilient than initially thought. The underground facilities at the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites were largely unaffected by the US strikes, which targeted aboveground infrastructure such as power systems and uranium metal processing buildings.
While this is a significant blow to President Trump’s claim of success, it does not necessarily mean that Iran will be able to quickly recover its nuclear program. The temporary setback may give world powers more time to negotiate with Tehran over its nuclear ambitions.
**Key Takeaways**
* The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment suggests that the recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities did not eliminate the core components of Tehran’s nuclear program.
* The DIA found that the strikes likely delayed Iran’s nuclear program by only a few months, contradicting public statements made by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
* Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine expressed caution about the success of the operation, saying it was too early to determine whether Iran retained nuclear capabilities.
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* CNN: Trump says Israel needs to calm down as he defends Iran deal
