US strikes set Iran's nuclear program back a few months, Pentagon assessment says

WASHINGTON − A preliminary Pentagon intelligence assessment has found the U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities set back Iran's nuclear program by a few months, according to a U.S. government source familiar with the intelligence findings.

President Donald Trump claimed the strikes 'obliterated' the three Iranian nuclear facilities.

Early evidence has shown the bombing did not reach depths necessary to destroy the facilities, which are buried deeply underground, according to a second U.S. official.

The June 21 airstrikes by U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers used the military’s most powerful conventional weapon, the GBU-57 bunker buster. The 30,000-pound bombs burrow deep into the earth before exploding.

However, initial assessments show that they did not reach depths to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability completely, said another U.S. official familiar with the intelligence but not authorized to speak publicly.

A third U.S. official confirmed the findings in the Defence Intelligence Agency report, which was first reported by CNN.

Some members of Congress have seen the DIA assessment.

"Based on everything we have seen – and I’ve seen it all – our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons," Hegseth said.

"Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target – and worked perfectly," Hegseth said. "The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission."

"Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration."

In a White House address hours after the bombs were dropped on June 21, President Donald Trump claimed the strikes "obliterated" the three key nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Hegseth told reporters the next morning that "Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated."

Trump administration cancels classified Iran briefing

Democratic lawmakers said the White House canceled June 24 classified briefing for the House and Senate on Iran, lambasting the Trump administration for not keeping Congress in the loop.

The briefing would have included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other officials, according to a screenshot of the invitation shared on X by Rep. Jason Crow, D-C.O.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said senators need "real information" and the attendance of cabinet members shouldn't hold that up.

Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., a former combat veteran and West Point graduate, accused the Trump administration of canceling the briefing because Trump did not want it known how overblown his claims were about the U.S. bombings of Tehran’s uranium enrichment facilities.

"Trump just cancelled a classified House briefing on the Iran strikes with zero explanation,” Ryan said in a string of posts on X.