US intelligence estimates that Iran's stockpiles of enriched uranium survived the strikes on nuclear facilities.
US military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites last weekend did not destroy key components of the country's nuclear program and likely only set it back months, a preliminary US intelligence assessment seen by the agency suggests.
CNN reports this, citing informed sources.
The assessment, which has not been previously reported, was prepared by the Pentagon's intelligence agency and is based on battle damage analysis conducted by U.S. Central Command following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Analysis of the damage to the facilities and the impact of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear ambitions is ongoing and could change as more intelligence becomes available. But the preliminary findings contradict repeated claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that the strikes “completely and utterly destroyed” Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities. Defense Secretary Pete Gegset has also said Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been “destroyed.”
Two sources familiar with the assessment said Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles were targeted by the U.S. strikes, with one of the sources noting that “centrifuges are the main targets.”
“So the assessment [of American intelligence – ed.] is that the US has set them back a maximum of a few months,” he added.
The publication notes that the White House acknowledged the existence of such an assessment, but stated that it did not agree with it.
Recall that the US struck three nuclear facilities in Iran, causing panic in the Kremlin, as this indicates that America is ready to engage in large-scale conflicts. The Kremlin is concerned, because the American attack probably demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the Iranian air defense system, provided, in particular, by Russia.
