US Strikes on Iran: Clash Between Official Claims and Intelligence Reports
Despite US claims of obliterating Iran's nuclear capabilities, intelligence assessments suggest minimal impact on Tehran's core nuclear operations. Strikes on key sites primarily affected surface structures, leaving underground systems and enriched uranium stockpiles mostly intact, sparking debate over the effectiveness of the strikes.
- Country:
- United States
In a statement that contrasts sharply with US intelligence findings, President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth have claimed that recent military actions have obliterated Iran's capacity to build nuclear weapons. However, intelligence reports obtained by CNN suggest a different reality.
According to assessments from the Defence Intelligence Agency reported by CNN, the recent US strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities inflicted only temporary setbacks, primarily affecting surface infrastructure while leaving underground nuclear enrichment systems largely intact. The strikes reportedly targeted sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Despite US Central Command's battle damage assessment contradicting Trump and Hegseth's public assertions, the findings indicate that while above-ground damage was significant, the core nuclear program remains largely unscathed. The operation, involving B-2 bombers and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, showcases the ongoing debate about the real impact of military interventions on Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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