Kathmandu – A preliminary intelligence assessment by the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) suggests that the recent American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities failed to completely destroy Iran’s nuclear program. Sources familiar with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) evaluation shared details with US media outlet CBS News, stating that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles remain largely intact after Saturday’s bombings.
Major American news organizations, including CNN and The New York Times, have also reported on the leaked intelligence findings, quoting defense sources. However, the White House has labeled the assessment as “completely false” and described it as an effort to “discredit President Trump.”
Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, called the leak of the classified intelligence assessment “treasonous” and accused the sources of undermining national security.
In a response to the BBC, the Pentagon said, “Those suggesting these strikes were not devastating are attempting to weaken the President and this successful operation.”
Meanwhile, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be taking hold, with both nations reportedly observing the truce.
The Pentagon’s early assessment questions the administration’s claim that Iran’s nuclear program was fully dismantled during Saturday’s strike. The US military had used deep-penetrating bombs capable of exploding up to 61 meters underground to target Iran’s three main nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
However, sources linked to the intelligence report say most of Iran’s centrifuges remain safe, with the strikes causing damage mainly to surface structures. Two of the main entrances to key nuclear sites were sealed, and while some buildings were damaged or destroyed, the majority of Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure survived.
According to US media, the airstrikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear program by only a few months. The exact time Iran will need to resume full operations depends on how quickly it can clear debris and conduct repairs.
The report also claims that Iran had relocated some of its enriched uranium stockpiles before the attack. The US military reportedly used its largest bunker-buster bomb, the GBU-57, designed to destroy deeply buried nuclear sites.
After the operation, US military commander General Dan Kane stated, “Significant damage has been inflicted on all three targets.” Satellite images showed six large craters near two locations at the Fordow site, but the extent of internal damage remains unclear.
An Iranian state TV official claimed the facilities were evacuated before the strikes and that Iran suffered no major damage. President Trump dismissed reports suggesting limited success as “fake news.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “CNN and The New York Times are spreading fake news. Both are trying to discredit one of the most successful military operations in history. Iran’s nuclear sites have been completely destroyed! The American people are strongly condemning both outlets.”
Trump also shared a statement by Steve Witkoff, who said in a Fox News interview, “We dropped 12 bunker-buster bombs on the Fordow base. They penetrated multiple defense layers, and there is no doubt the base was completely destroyed. Reports claiming otherwise are completely baseless.”
Witkoff further added, “This is outrageous, it’s treason, and it must be investigated. Whoever is responsible must be held accountable.”
In response to inquiries from the BBC, the Pentagon quoted US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying, “Based on everything I have seen, I can say our strikes have completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear weapons capability. Our massive bombs hit every target precisely and did their job. The effects are now buried beneath mountains of rubble in Iran. Anyone suggesting these strikes were not devastating is clearly trying to undermine the President and this successful operation.”
The BBC has also sought comments from the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
Meanwhile, President Trump posted a 60-second video on social media showing B-2 bombers dropping multiple bombs over Iran, set to music with the recurring lyrics “Bomb Iran.”
