US strikes did not destroy Iran nuclear programme, says Pentagon assessment

A recent Pentagon intelligence assessment reveals that the U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities did not achieve their intended goal of completely dismantling the country's nuclear program. According to sources familiar with the evaluation by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the strikes, which targeted key sites including Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, only managed to delay Iran's nuclear capabilities by a few months at most. The assessment indicates that rather than destroying the nuclear program, the strikes primarily affected aboveground structures, leaving many of Iran's centrifuges largely intact. The U.S. military employed advanced bunker-buster bombs capable of penetrating significant depths of concrete and earth, yet the overall impact on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile was minimal. Reports suggest that some of this stockpile had been moved prior to the strikes, further complicating the assessment of the operation's effectiveness.

In response to the Pentagon's findings, the White House has strongly disputed the initial damage assessment, labeling it as incorrect and politically motivated. President Donald Trump had previously claimed that the airstrikes had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities, a statement that has been called into question by the intelligence assessment. The U.S. government is now faced with the challenge of addressing the implications of these strikes, particularly in light of Iran's potential to quickly resume its nuclear activities depending on how long it takes to repair the damaged facilities. As the situation develops, further analysis and updates regarding the state of Iran's nuclear program and the geopolitical ramifications of the U.S. strikes are anticipated.