Washington, D.C. — The recent U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities have only marginally hindered Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, according to initial intelligence assessments from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The classified reports suggest that the strikes caused disruption but did not destroy core infrastructure, contradicting public claims by President Donald Trump that the nuclear program was "totally obliterated."
The airstrikes targeted key Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow and Natanz, in response to increasing tensions following Israeli operations and Iran's growing nuclear enrichment activities. However, CIA analysts now believe that Iran’s centrifuges remain operational and its enriched uranium stockpile remains untouched. Officials familiar with the classified briefings estimate that the program may have been set back by only several months.
President Trump, speaking after the strikes, declared that the threat from Iran had been neutralized and emphasized his administration’s success in stopping what he referred to as an imminent nuclear danger. However, intelligence sources suggest these assertions were premature. One official noted that while the strikes were militarily significant, they did not inflict long-term damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure or substantially reduce its capabilities.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the intelligence findings as “flat-out wrong,” insisting that the president’s statements were based on accurate information from the Pentagon. She further criticized leaks to the media, calling them politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the international community has expressed deep concern about the escalation. Russia warned that the world was just "millimeters away" from a nuclear catastrophe and offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran. The offer was rejected by the U.S., further straining diplomatic channels. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene a special session in the coming days to discuss the growing crisis.
On the regional front, Israel launched one of the most extensive air campaigns in its history earlier this month, deploying over 200 fighter jets in a coordinated attack on Iranian facilities. Supported by covert Mossad operations aimed at disabling Iranian air defenses, the strikes were intended to cripple Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. In response, Iran fired a volley of ballistic missiles and drones, some of which reportedly included hypersonic systems, prompting emergency evacuations in parts of Israel and Tehran.
The situation has reignited domestic debate in the United States about the scope of presidential war powers. Lawmakers from both parties have called for more transparency and debate over the administration's decision-making process. Critics argue that the strikes were launched with insufficient congressional oversight and without a clear long-term strategy.
As the dust settles, global observers are watching for the International Atomic Energy Agency's next inspection report, which could offer further clarity on the extent of damage to Iran's nuclear facilities. Diplomatic options remain on the table, but with tensions at a boiling point, the road to de-escalation appears increasingly narrow.