Washington, D.C., July 3 (ANI): The Pentagon estimates that Iran’s nuclear program has been delayed by at least one to two years following U.S. military strikes on three key nuclear facilities last month, The Hill reported Wednesday.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters that recent intelligence assessments indicate significant setbacks to Tehran’s capabilities. “I think we’re thinking probably closer to two years — like, degraded their program by two years,” Parnell said during a briefing.
Parnell added that U.S. strikes had “completely obliterated” critical sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, a conclusion that aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s evaluation of the damage.
The U.S. military carried out strikes on June 21, triggering more than a week of retaliatory attacks between Tehran and Israel. President Donald Trump, speaking on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures, described the operations as devastating. “It was obliterating like nobody’s ever seen before. And that meant the end to their nuclear ambitions, at least for a period of time,” Trump said, while leaving open the possibility of renewed U.S. strikes if Tehran resumes enrichment activities.
Although an early Pentagon assessment reportedly suggested the program was delayed by only months, Hegseth rejected that as premature.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi confirmed that Iran’s nuclear facilities suffered “enormous damage” in the strikes. Grossi warned, however, that Iran could resume uranium enrichment within months if it chose to do so.
While President Trump has expressed openness to renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran, he has said that striking a deal to restrain enrichment is “not necessary” at this stage.
The U.S. and its allies have long accused Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as cover for weapons development — a charge Tehran denies. (ANI)
About The Author
