US intelligence not sure Iran nuclear program hit
Minimal damage: US intelligence says last week's airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities did not completely halt Tehran's nuclear development and only delayed it for a few months. CNN reports this, citing a preliminary assessment by US intelligence, which is confirmed by the European Truth. According to sources, including the US Defense Intelligence Agency, fewer than expected critical components of Iran's nuclear program were destroyed, including centrifuges and enriched uranium stocks. CNN's sources explained that, according to preliminary findings, the strikes damaged mainly the external structures and infrastructure of uranium conversion facilities, including buildings used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. At the same time, according to them, the stockpiles of weaponized uranium remained intact, and the centrifuges themselves were almost undamaged. Therefore, from their point of view, the Iranian nuclear program can resume its activities within a few months. One of the interlocutors emphasized that the United States "was able to set back Iranian development, perhaps only for a few months, no more," while the main strategy for Tehran remains relevant. White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt commented on this situation, noting that the initial intelligence, which she called "absolutely incorrect," was made public in the context of attempts to discredit the presidency of Donald Trump. Levitt also emphasized that these leaks are manifestations of political manipulation and that, contrary to earlier statements that the strikes "completely destroyed" Iranian nuclear facilities, in fact the consequences were less than expected. This assessment contradicts the official statements of the Trump administration, which claimed to have completely destroyed key Iranian nuclear facilities during last week's strikes. Earlier, for example, representatives of the American authorities assured that the strategic operation successfully disrupted the Iranian nuclear potential, which increases the question of the real scale of the damage and the prospects for the Iranian nuclear program in the future. There is currently an internal conflict within the US authorities over the assessment of the results of the strikes. At the same time, Iranian officials assure that their nuclear program remains invulnerable and that any strikes will not stop its further development. Experts believe that the current situation is preparing the ground for new diplomatic or military steps, because, according to analysts, any delay in the destruction or suspension of Iranian nuclear activities could increase tension in the region and lead to new crisis scenarios.