Washington DC [US], June 26 (ANI): The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Wednesday confirmed that the recent United States military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have “severely damaged” the country’s nuclear program, countering earlier reports suggesting only limited disruption. Citing a “body of credible intelligence,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that key Iranian nuclear infrastructure had been destroyed and could take years to rebuild.
“CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” Ratcliffe said in an official 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 CIA Director added that the agency is continuing to collect intelligence and keep key decision-makers, as well as oversight bodies, informed. Ratcliffe also emphasized the agency’s commitment to transparency, noting that updates would be shared with the public “when possible, given the national importance of this matter.”
This official confirmation comes amidst a growing media dispute over the actual impact of the June 22 strikes. An earlier report by CNN, citing unnamed sources familiar with Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessments, claimed the attacks may have caused only temporary setbacks to Tehran’s nuclear efforts—potentially delaying the program by a few months.
According to the CNN report, the US precision strikes, conducted in coordination with Israeli forces, targeted the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. Although substantial damage was reportedly inflicted on above-ground structures—such as power systems and uranium conversion facilities—CNN cited intelligence sources suggesting the core underground enrichment infrastructure remained largely intact.
Reacting strongly to those media claims, President Donald Trump accused outlets like CNN and The New York Times of spreading “fake news” to downplay one of the “most successful military strikes in history.” Trump reiterated that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been “completely destroyed.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also announced that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior Pentagon officials would hold a news conference at 8 a.m. EST (5:30 p.m. IST) on Thursday. The briefing is intended to spotlight the contributions of US pilots involved in the mission and to counter what Trump called “misleading and premature reporting.”
“Secretary of Defense (War!) Pete Hegseth, together with Military Representatives, will be holding a Major News Conference tomorrow morning… to fight for the Dignity of our Great American Pilots,” Trump wrote. “After 36 hours of dangerously flying through Enemy Territory, they landed, they knew the Success was LEGENDARY, and then… they started reading Fake News… They felt terribly!”
While the DIA’s early assessments raised questions about the long-term impact of the operation, the CIA’s new statement, backed by what it terms “historically reliable sources,” may shift the narrative, supporting the Trump administration’s claims of decisive military success in dismantling Iran’s nuclear threat. (ANI)
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