U.S. military strikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites last weekend failed to destroy the core of its nuclear program and likely only delayed it by months, according to an early Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of “total obliteration.”
Seven sources familiar with the classified analysis told CNN that the U.S. enriched uranium stockpile remains intact, and most of Iran’s centrifuges were not destroyed. At least some uranium was moved out of the targeted facilities ahead of the strike, one source said.
“So the assessment is that the U.S. set them back maybe a few months, tops,” said a source familiar with the report.
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The strikes—conducted with 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles—targeted three major nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. But according to sources, damage was limited mostly to aboveground structures, including power stations and some uranium conversion buildings, not the deeply buried enrichment components.
White House Pushes Back
Despite the Defense Intelligence Agency’s early findings, Trump and top officials continue to claim overwhelming success.
“I think it’s been completely demolished,” Trump said Tuesday morning.
“Those targets were obliterated, and the pilots should be given credit.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the claim, saying Iran’s nuclear ambitions “have been obliterated.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the DIA’s findings as the work of “an anonymous, low-level loser” in the intelligence community. She criticized the leak of the top-secret assessment, saying it was designed to “discredit the brave fighter pilots” and the president.
Intel Community Remains Cautious
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine warned Sunday it was still “way too early” to judge the full impact of the strikes. Analysts across the U.S. intelligence community are still evaluating imagery, signals intelligence, and Iranian responses.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), a senior Republican on foreign affairs, downplayed Trump’s rhetoric:
“It was never meant to completely destroy the nuclear facilities, but rather cause significant damage. It was always known to be a temporary setback.”
Israel Sees Two-Year Delay, but Questions Remain
Israel, which conducted its own pre-strike operations, has assessed that the combined Israeli and American attacks have delayed Iran’s program by up to two years — though Israeli officials already made that claim before the U.S. joined the campaign.
Still, satellite imagery reviewed by nuclear weapons expert Jeffrey Lewis indicates that deep-underground facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Parchin remain intact and could allow Iran to reconstitute its program if not further disrupted.
“These facilities could serve as the basis for the rapid reconstitution of Iran’s nuclear program,” Lewis said.
Secret Sites and Missed Targets
Adding to the concern, U.S. officials believe Iran maintains undisclosed nuclear sites that were not targeted and remain operational.
The U.S. military deliberately used Tomahawk missiles on Isfahan instead of bunker busters, believing that Isfahan’s lower levels are buried deeper than even Fordow and couldn’t be penetrated effectively, a source said.
Briefings Canceled Amid Political Fallout
Classified briefings for House and Senate lawmakers were abruptly canceled Tuesday. Lawmakers were not given a clear reason. The Senate briefing is now rescheduled for Thursday.
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) accused Trump of canceling the House briefing to avoid scrutiny:
“Trump just cancelled a classified House briefing on the Iran strikes with zero explanation. The real reason? His team knows they can’t back up his bluster and BS.”
Political Stakes High for Trump
Trump’s decision to launch direct strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure marked an escalation not seen in prior administrations. But now, questions over whether the strikes achieved their goal could undermine the administration’s credibility ahead of the November election.
Trump’s political allies, including Secretary Hegseth and senior White House staff, have continued to promote a narrative of total victory. But the classified DIA assessment, coupled with expert analysis and missing damage to key underground facilities, paints a far more restrained picture.
Bottom line: Despite high-impact airstrikes, Iran’s nuclear capability remains largely intact, and its ability to rebuild appears viable — a reality at odds with public claims by Trump and his defense team.
