In a dramatic turn of events following U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment suggests that the attacks failed to destroy the core of Iran’s nuclear program — directly contradicting statements made by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Over the weekend, American B-2 bombers dropped more than a dozen 30,000-pound "bunker buster" bombs on key Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. While President Trump hailed the mission as a “complete obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, early intelligence tells a different story.
🛰️ So, What Did the Bombs Hit?
Sources familiar with the DIA’s early battle damage assessment — conducted by U.S. Central Command — say the damage was mostly above ground 🏗️. Power infrastructure and aboveground processing facilities were destroyed, but the underground centrifuges and enriched uranium stockpiles? Still largely intact 🧪.
“The US set them back maybe a few months, tops,” one source told CNN.
That means Iran's nuclear ambitions, far from being “buried under rubble,” could be back online sooner than the White House would like to admit.
💣 The Bombs That Couldn’t Reach Deep Enough
Despite the impressive payload, the so-called "bunker busters" may not have been enough. Iran's most sensitive nuclear materials are housed in fortified bunkers buried deep underground — especially at Isfahan and Fordow. One site, Isfahan, wasn’t even hit with bunker busters, but instead targeted by submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles — not ideal for penetrating fortified underground levels.
Weapons expert Jeffrey Lewis backed up the intel:
“The ceasefire came without either Israel or the United States being able to destroy several key underground nuclear facilities.”
🗣️ The White House Hits Back
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt aggressively pushed back against the report, calling the leaked DIA assessment “flat-out wrong” and the product of a “low-level loser” in the intelligence community. 🧨
“Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration,” she said.
President Trump doubled down Tuesday, saying:
“That place is under rock. That place is demolished.”
🤐 No Briefings, No Answers
Fueling the controversy, classified briefings for both the House and Senate were abruptly canceled Tuesday — with no clear reason given. Lawmakers from both parties were left in the dark.
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) posted on X:
“Trump just canceled a classified House briefing on the Iran strikes with zero explanation. His team knows they can’t back up his bluster and BS.”
🧩 The Bigger Picture
Some in Congress say the strikes were never intended to fully eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) told CNN the mission was “always known to be a temporary setback.”
But if the goal was deterrence, did the operation succeed? 🤔 While Defense Secretary Hegseth and Trump tout “American deterrence is back,” intelligence suggests Iran’s capabilities — and possibly even secret facilities — remain operational.
And let’s not forget the context: Israel had already been striking Iranian targets for days before the U.S. got involved, reportedly asking Washington for help with penetrating Iran’s most fortified sites. Still, Iran’s nuclear core appears to have survived.
🧭 What Happens Next?
The fallout from these strikes could shape geopolitics in the region for months. With Iran’s nuclear sites damaged — but not destroyed — the question now becomes:
🔹 Will Iran retaliate more aggressively?
🔹 How will global powers respond to U.S. claims vs. on-the-ground reality?
🔹 And if this wasn’t a knockout punch, is another round coming?
