Pentagon and Trump at Odds, Iran Nuclear Facility Destruction Remains a Mystery
According to informed sources, a report recently submitted by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to Congress indicates that a joint US-Israeli airstrike may have failed to destroy key components of Iran's underground nuclear facility, particularly the core centrifuge systems. Although the surface of the facility sustained significant damage, there is no evidence that the most crucial underground structures were critically hit.
This assessment aligns with publicly available satellite images showing new craters, mountain collapses, and tunnel entrance damage in the targeted area, but these signs have yet to confirm serious subterranean destruction.
Trump Insists on "Complete Destruction," White House Dismisses Media Reports
Despite the cautious intelligence report, U.S. President Trump insists that the airstrike "completely destroyed" the Iranian nuclear facility. He has harshly criticized media outlets like CNN for "misleading the public" and accused them of intentionally "undermining presidential leadership" both at the White House and on social media.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt tweeted on Platform X that these media reports are "utterly false," emphasizing that the information held by the Trump administration is "more truthful and credible" than that of the journalists.
Trump's envoy, Witkoff, stated on Fox News that claims the military action was ineffective are "utterly ridiculous," asserting that the U.S. has "effectively suppressed" Iran's nuclear progress.
Ceasefire Holds Steady but Situation Remains Fragile
Following U.S. mediation, the conflict between Israel and Iran, which erupted in mid-June, is currently under a temporary ceasefire. Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with any breaches of the ceasefire agreement, posting, "Stop throwing bombs!"
As of now, the ceasefire has lasted several hours without reports of attacks. As a result, oil prices have fallen, nearly erasing all gains made since the conflict began.
However, analysts warn that the ceasefire agreement remains extremely fragile. Hostilities could resume at any moment if either party is dissatisfied with the current situation or if nuclear negotiations falter.
International Agency Calls for Resuming Inspections to Clarify Truth
IAEA Director General Grossi publicly stated that the current status of Iran's nuclear facilities is "highly uncertain," calling for inspections to be resumed "as soon as possible." He noted that Iran already possesses 60% enriched uranium, just a step away from the 90% needed to produce a nuclear weapon.
The IAEA reported that the last inspection of these sensitive inventories was conducted days before the Israeli raid on June 13, and the current whereabouts of these materials are unknown, drawing intense international attention.
Grossi emphasized that although the U.S. airstrike may have temporarily delayed Iran's nuclear project, Iran's nuclear technology and industrial capabilities persist, and the long-term impact is yet to be assessed.
Expert Opinions: Damage or Delay Plans by Months to a Year
Several U.S. defense intelligence experts assert that although the attack did not completely destroy Iran's nuclear program, it is expected to cause a delay ranging from three months to a year. This judgment is based both on on-site images and analysis of the resources needed for Iran's nuclear facility restoration and external assistance.
However, some experts caution against excessive optimism. Iran possesses strong engineering capabilities and experience in constructing hidden facilities and may accelerate its nuclear program under international pressure to demonstrate "strategic resilience."
Focus on Future Nuclear Diplomacy
With the conflict at a pause, attention has shifted to the upcoming U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. Washington and Tel Aviv hope to leverage military pressure to extract diplomatic concessions from Tehran, but Iran has yet to make a clear commitment to return to the nuclear agreement.
Against this backdrop, the extent of the damage to nuclear facilities will influence diplomatic leverage and negotiation timing. The U.S. intelligence system will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the airstrike, while the international community closely watches whether the IAEA can resume on-site inspections in Iran.
