U.S. Intelligence Report Contradicts Trump, Says Strikes Did Not Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program

 A U.S. intelligence report has revealed that the American military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 21 caused significant damage but did not destroy the core components of Tehran’s nuclear program, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claim of “complete and total obliteration.” The assessment, indicates that Iran’s nuclear ambitions were set back by only a few months, with key uranium stockpiles and centrifuges remaining intact.

The strikes, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” involved six B-2 bombers dropping 14 bunker-buster bombs and a submarine launching 30 Tomahawk missiles, targeting enrichment facilities, per Reuters. Trump, in a Truth Social post on June 22, claimed the sites were “totally destroyed,” a narrative echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said, “Our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons.” However, the intelligence report, cited by anonymous sources, found that Iran’s 408.6 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium—near weapons-grade—was moved before the strikes, and most centrifuges at Fordow’s underground facility survived, though the entrance collapsed.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian refuted Trump’s claims, stating on June 24 that the sites were evacuated in advance. David Albright of the Institute for Science and International Security noted that rebuilding could take “significant time, investment, and energy,” but Iran’s nuclear enterprise remains viable.

The strikes followed a 12-day conflict with Israel, killing 224 Iranians and 24 Israelis. A fragile ceasefire, brokered by Trump and Qatar on June 23, holds, but Iran’s parliament voted to halt IAEA cooperation, raising fears of NPT withdrawal.