CIA Director John Ratcliffe said that “a body of credible intelligence” indicates that Iran’s nuclear program was severely damaged in the U.S. strikes last weekend.
“This includes new intelligence from historically reliable and accurate sources that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and will need to be rebuilt over the years,” Ratcliffe said in a statement.
Ratcliffe said the CIA continues to gather additional information so that “appropriate decision-makers and oversight bodies” are fully informed.
“Whenever possible, we will also provide updated data and information to the American public, given the national importance of this matter and in any effort to ensure transparency,” he added.
Following the unprecedented U.S. bombing operation last weekend on three Iranian nuclear facilities, including the notorious Fordow, there have been conflicting reports about the impact of the strikes. A Pentagon Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, leaked to the US media this week, suggests that Iran may still have most of its nuclear capabilities intact.
“This is a preliminary, low-confidence assessment, not a final conclusion, and will continue to be refined as additional intelligence becomes available,” a senior DIA official told Al Arabiya TV when asked about the assessment.
US President Donald Trump and his administration have strongly criticized the leaked DIA report and downplayed its significance.
After the CIA released Ratcliffe’s statement, it also posted it on the X platform.
