A preliminary intelligence assessment by the U.S. Department of Defense suggests that the recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by U.S. forces have only delayed, rather than destroyed, Iran’s nuclear weapons development capabilities, according to multiple U.S. officials familiar with the findings.
The June 21 operation, led by B-2 stealth bombers, targeted three key nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs – the most powerful conventional weapons in the U.S. arsenal. These 30,000-pound bombs are designed to penetrate deeply buried targets. However, the initial assessment indicates they failed to reach the depths required to completely destroy the facilities, which are built into fortified underground structures.
One U.S. intelligence source said the strikes likely set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by “a few months,” not the years claimed by top administration officials. Another official, while confirming the limited success of the mission, emphasized that the assessment is still preliminary and could evolve with further analysis.
Defense Secretary Denies Report
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected the intelligence findings, issuing a statement declaring the bombings a total success. “Our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” Hegseth said. “The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran. Anyone who says otherwise is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”
President Donald Trump echoed Hegseth’s statements in a national address shortly after the strikes, asserting that the United States had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity. He specifically cited the destruction of the enrichment facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan as evidence of a decisive blow to Iran’s weapons program.
Controversy Over Cancelled Briefing
The assessment became more contentious when the White House abruptly canceled a classified congressional briefing scheduled for June 24. The session was expected to include high-level national security officials such as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Democratic lawmakers condemned the cancellation, accusing the administration of avoiding scrutiny over exaggerated public claims. “Probably not a coincidence Trump cancelled the Senate classified briefing for this afternoon,” Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said on X (formerly Twitter).
Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), a combat veteran and West Point graduate, claimed the administration canceled the session to prevent lawmakers from learning the actual intelligence behind the operation. “Trump doesn’t want the truth about the limited impact of the bombings to come out,” Ryan said.
Background and Fallout
The June 21 airstrikes were launched following rising tensions between Iran and the United States, with the Trump administration arguing that the action was necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Critics, however, question the immediacy of the threat and whether the strike truly neutralized Iran’s capabilities.
The Defense Intelligence Agency’s internal report, first reported by CNN, indicates that Iran retains the technical knowledge and resources to restart enrichment activities once the damage is assessed and repaired.
While the full strategic impact remains uncertain, the episode has reignited the debate over presidential war powers, intelligence transparency, and the true state of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
