An early assessment by United States intelligence indicates that the recent military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities did not eliminate the core elements of the country’s atomic infrastructure, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
According to the CNN, the US airstrikes—conducted jointly with Israel—targeted three key nuclear sites.
However, intelligence sources believe that the attacks only caused limited disruption, likely delaying Iran’s nuclear program by a few months rather than inflicting long-term damage.
These findings stand in contrast to public statements made by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that the strikes rendered Iran’s nuclear ambitions obsolete.
Responding swiftly to CNN’s report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly rejected the assessment, calling it “flat-out wrong.”
She did not elaborate on the administration’s internal intelligence findings but emphasized the effectiveness of the operation.
The conflicting narratives highlight growing tension over the actual impact of the June 22 offensive.
While Israel and the US government continue to promote the mission as a strategic success, independent analyses and emerging intelligence appear more cautious in their conclusions.
Satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies showed visible structural damage at the Natanz nuclear complex near Ahmadabad.
However, analysts point out that Iran’s enrichment infrastructure is buried deep underground, potentially insulating critical components from the full force of aerial bombardment.
The strike was part of a broader military campaign aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear capability and deterring future advancements.
While US officials maintain that the goal was achieved, doubts persist within parts of the intelligence community regarding the long-term efficacy of the operation.
Further reviews of post-strike damage are ongoing as both Washington and Jerusalem weigh the next steps in their strategy toward Tehran.
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