WASHINGTON (AP) — A new U.S. intelligence report has concluded that Iran’s nuclear program suffered only temporary setbacks following a recent U.S. strike, falling short of the “total obliteration” President Donald Trump had claimed. This early assessment, issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), was shared by two individuals familiar with the findings who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to the report, while the U.S. strikes on Saturday caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, the sites were not entirely destroyed. Contrary to public statements from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran retains some key nuclear assets.
The assessment found that Iran had moved portions of its highly enriched uranium stockpile before the strikes, which remained intact. It also revealed that Iran’s centrifuges largely survived the attack.
At Fordo, a fortified underground enrichment plant, the entrance reportedly collapsed and parts of the infrastructure were damaged. However, the facility’s deeply buried sections remained functional. One source noted that previous intelligence had warned of Fordo’s resilience in the face of an airstrike.
The White House quickly rejected the DIA’s assessment. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “flat-out wrong” and accused its leak of being an attempt to undermine President Trump and discredit U.S. military personnel. She insisted the strikes were a “perfectly executed mission” that had resulted in “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear program.
President Trump, in multiple recent public statements and social media posts, reiterated that Iran’s nuclear sites were “totally destroyed” and that the country would be unable to rebuild its nuclear capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this narrative during a televised address on Tuesday. He declared that Iran’s nuclear program had been “brought to ruin” and praised the U.S. for joining Israel in what he described as a “historic” effort. He also extended his gratitude to Trump.
Both the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the DIA’s findings. The ODNI oversees the coordination of 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the DIA, which specializes in foreign military assessments.
The existence of the DIA’s report was first revealed by CNN on Tuesday.
