US Intelligence Report Casts Doubt on ‘Total Obliteration’ of Iran’s Nuclear Program
US Intelligence Report Casts Doubt on ‘Total Obliteration’ of Iran’s Nuclear Program
A preliminary U.S. intelligence report delivered this week is challenging the Trump administration’s claims of a decisive victory following weekend strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. While President Donald Trump declared the operation a “spectacular success” and asserted that key sites like Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz were “completely and totally obliterated,” the classified assessment paints a less definitive picture.
The military action, which reportedly involved submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles, 125 aircraft, and fourteen 30,000-pound “bunker-busting” bombs targeting deep underground facilities, appears to have only temporarily hindered Iran’s nuclear ambitions. According to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, leaked to the press on Tuesday, the program may only be set back by a few months. Crucially, the report suggests that essential components, including centrifuges, could be operational again within a short timeframe. Furthermore, it alleges that a significant portion of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was likely moved to undisclosed locations prior to the bombings, mitigating the strikes’ impact.
The White House has vehemently dismissed the intelligence findings. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled the assessment “flat-out wrong” and attributed its leak to an “anonymous, low-level loser in the intelligence community,” accusing the leaker of attempting to “demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots.” Leavitt reiterated the administration’s stance that such powerful bombs guarantee “total obliteration.” Similarly, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that the bombing campaign “obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” a sentiment echoed by President Trump on Truth Social, who called the report “fake news” and the operation “one of the most successful military strikes in history.”
Despite the administration’s strong denials, the true impact of the strikes remains a subject of intense debate and ongoing assessment. Democratic senators, on Tuesday, voiced strong criticism over the sudden postponement of a classified House briefing intended to detail the operation and its true effects. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decried the delay as “evasive” and “derelict,” demanding that the administration fulfill its legal obligation to brief Congress on such critical national security matters.
The unfolding dispute over the effectiveness of the strikes highlights the complex and often contentious nature of assessing military operations, particularly when information remains classified and subject to political interpretation. The coming days are expected to bring further developments as Congress seeks answers and intelligence agencies continue their evaluations.
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