A recent US intelligence report suggests that Iran’s nuclear program was only delayed by a matter of months following a US strike, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claims that it was “completely and fully obliterated.”
The preliminary assessment, released Monday by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), contrasts with statements made by both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the condition of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Sources familiar with the report indicate that while the strikes on Saturday at the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites caused substantial damage, they did not result in complete destruction.
The White House vehemently refuted the report’s conclusions, labeling them “flat-out wrong.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement, stating, “The leaking of this alleged assessment is a blatant attempt to undermine President Trump and discredit the courageous pilots who executed a flawless mission to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.”
“It’s common knowledge that when you precisely deploy 14 30,000-pound bombs on their intended targets, the outcome is complete obliteration.”
Neither the CIA nor the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) offered a comment on the DIA’s assessment.
The ODNI oversees the operations of the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, including the DIA, which serves as the intelligence branch of the Defense Department. The DIA is responsible for generating intelligence concerning foreign militaries and the capabilities of adversaries.
CNN initially reported on the intelligence assessment on Tuesday.
