Early US intelligence assessments have cast doubt on President Donald Trump’s assertion that recent American air strikes had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme. According to a classified report by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Iran’s key enrichment capabilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan were damaged, but not destroyed, and could be restored within months.The findings, first reported by CNN and described by multiple officials familiar with the assessment, indicate that while the strikes caused “significant damage”, Iran’s centrifuges remain largely intact and much of its highly enriched uranium stockpile was likely moved ahead of the attacks.Also read: What if US bombing on Iran’s nuclear sites was effective – and that’s the problem?These findings contradict President Donald Trump who hailed the mission as having “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s enrichment facilities in a televised message following the strikes.However, the DIA report concludes otherwise, suggesting the impact was far more limited and temporary. Intelligence gathered in the days following the strikes revealed that fortified underground facilities at Fordo, for instance, were not penetrated despite the deployment of 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. The tunnel entrances collapsed, but the subterranean centrifuge halls were not destroyed.
‘Flat-out wrong’: White House denies report
Trump reacts to this report in strong words, calling it an “ATTEMPT TO DEMEAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES IN HISTORY. THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED!”Also read: ‘Fake news’: Trump doubles down on ‘Iran nuclear sites obliterated’ claim after US intel contradicts him; defends Op Midnight HammerThe White House dismissed the assessment as “flat-out wrong”. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the leaks were intended to “discredit the brave fighter pilots” and undermine Trump’s leadership. “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration,” she said.Despite these claims, intelligence sources revealed that Iran likely anticipated the strikes. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies, dated June 19 three days before the US assault showed bulldozers and trucks near Fordo, sealing tunnel entrances with dirt. Experts believe Iran may have used these vehicles to move enriched uranium and possibly centrifuges out of the strike zones.Eric Brewer, a former US intelligence analyst, said, “It is plausible that Iran moved the material enriched to 60% out of Fordo and loaded it on a truck.” Kelsey Davenport from the Arms Control Association added that Iran could now operate a covert facility to resume enrichment, though such a move would carry significant risks.Also read: Mystery deepens over Uranium stockpile; was it buried or moved?Vice President JD Vance, defending the operation, argued that depriving Iran of the ability to enrich to weapons-grade uranium was a sufficient military objective. “That is mission success,” he said, even if Iran retains stockpiles of 60% enriched material.While Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, prior to the strikes, it was believed to possess over 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium enough, if further enriched, to build several bombs. Iran recently confirmed it has built a third enrichment facility in Isfahan, the status of which remains unclear following joint Israeli and US bombardments.
A fragile ceasefire
The ceasefire brokered by the US is currently holding, despite accusations from Israel that Iran violated the truce by firing missiles — a claim Tehran denies. Trump, expressing frustration, blamed both sides for escalating tensions, saying they had “fought so long and so hard they don’t know what they’re doing.”Also read: Ceasefire imposed, ceasefire violated but ‘war stopped’? : How Iran and Israel disappointed Trump- key developmentsTrump reportedly told Netanyahu in a post-strike phone call that no further American military operations would follow, urging diplomatic resolution instead. Netanyahu later announced that Israel had achieved its objectives, thanking Trump for helping neutralise the nuclear threat.However, outside experts caution that Iran retains enough infrastructure and materials to reconstitute a covert nuclear programme, though such an effort would now face increased scrutiny and logistical setbacks. As the dust settles, the debate over the strike’s true effectiveness and the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions continues.
