Washington, June 25 (EFE).- Iran’s nuclear program has been “severely damaged” by US airstrikes, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said Wednesday, following reports of minimal damage.
“CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” John Ratcliffe said in a statement.
“This includes new intelligence from a historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.”
The statement comes a day after a leaked preliminary assessment from a US intelligence agency, reported by CNN and other media, said that the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities did not destroy core components and only likely set back the country’s nuclear program by months.
The agency’s findings suggested that President Donald Trump’s claims that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been “completely and totally obliterated” were exaggerated.
Ahead of Ratcliffe’s statement Wednesday, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard wrote on X that “New intelligence confirms what @POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed” and accused the media of selectively publishing “portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments.”
The US offensive, with which Washington entered Israel’s conflict with Iran, involved 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 bombers, refueling tankers, reconnaissance aircraft and fighter jets as well as 75 bombs and missiles. EFE
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