U.S. Intelligence Assessment Contradicts Trump: Strikes on Iran Didn't Destroy Nuclear Sites - Jordan News

Jordan News

6 hours ago

An early U.S. intelligence assessment has concluded that recent American strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities did not destroy the core infrastructure of Iran's nuclear program — contradicting President Donald Trump's claims that the attacks had eliminated Iran's nuclear capabilities. اضافة اعلان According to CNN, which cited four sources familiar with the matter, the evaluation was prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) based on damage analysis conducted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) following the strikes last weekend. The assessment found that the strikes may have delayed Iran's nuclear program by a few months, but did not eliminate enriched uranium stockpiles or seriously damage centrifuges. One official stated that most of Iran's key centrifuges remained largely intact. Despite these findings, the White House disputed the assessment, calling it 'completely false.' White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told CNN the evaluation was 'leaked by a low-level intelligence figure' and accused them of attempting to discredit Trump and the U.S. military operation. 'Everyone knows what happens when you drop 14 bombs, each weighing 30,000 pounds, on their targets — total destruction,' she said. Trump's Claims vs. Intelligence Reality President Trump had repeatedly asserted that the strikes had 'completely destroyed' Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities. He emphasized that American pilots had hit their targets precisely, and claimed that the bombed sites were 'wiped out.' Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also echoed this view, stating the strikes had 'eliminated' Iran's nuclear ambitions and that the massive bunker-busting bombs used had struck their intended locations deep beneath the surface. However, the DIA's early analysis suggests otherwise: The key underground facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — which are critical to Iran's nuclear program — were not fully destroyed. The destruction was mostly limited to above-ground infrastructure, including power systems and conversion facilities. Additional Details: The U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers dropped more than a dozen 30,000-pound bombs on Fordow and Natanz. Isfahan was struck using Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a submarine, rather than bunker busters, due to the depth and fortification of the facility. The intelligence suggests Iran still retains secret facilities that weren't hit in the strikes and may still be operational. Strategic Implications Expert Jeffrey Lewis, a weapons analyst at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, confirmed that satellite imagery did not support claims of total destruction. He warned that underground facilities near Natanz, Isfahan, and Parchin remain intact and could allow Iran to quickly rebuild. 'The ceasefire was declared even though neither the U.S. nor Israel succeeded in destroying the deepest underground nuclear sites,' he said. Moreover, classified briefings for Congress about the operation were abruptly canceled, raising suspicions. Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY) posted on social media that Trump may have called off the briefing to avoid scrutiny, writing: 'He knows his team can't back up his bluster.' Conclusion While the Pentagon maintains the operation was a 'resounding success,' U.S. intelligence paints a more measured picture, suggesting the strikes delayed but did not dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities. The full scope of the operation's impact remains under review, but early signs show that Iran's program may resume sooner than expected, especially given the existence of untouched, fortified, or hidden nuclear sites.
This evolving assessment exposes a growing gap between political rhetoric and operational reality, raising new questions about the effectiveness and transparency of the U.S. strategy on Iran.