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| John Ratcliffe, Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency CIA | Photo: From the CIA website |
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has claimed that U.S. military strikes have caused severe damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, setting back the country’s nuclear program by several years.
Ratcliffe made the remarks after the leak of a preliminary U.S. intelligence report, which downplayed the impact of the attacks. The leak reportedly infuriated President Donald Trump.
While Ratcliffe confirmed that critical nuclear sites in Iran had been destroyed, he stopped short of saying the country’s nuclear ambitions had been “completely eliminated.”
The leaked intelligence report suggested that much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remained intact despite the airstrikes. Ratcliffe’s comments came a day after President Trump sharply condemned the leak and lashed out at the media for allegedly spreading “fake news” and misrepresenting facts.
In a statement, Trump reiterated his position, claiming that the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites. He also accused media outlets of “false reporting”. He announced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other military officials would hold a “compelling and decisive” press briefing at the Pentagon, focusing on defending America’s airmen and military prestige.
The intelligence leak surfaced at a sensitive time, as Iran and Israel had just agreed to a ceasefire after 12 days of deadly conflict — a truce brokered with U.S. involvement.
While attending a NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, President Trump described the strikes on Iran as “very intense, like destruction.”
Trump also revealed that direct talks between the United States and Iran were expected in the coming week, hinting he would likely demand assurances from Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. However, Tehran has not formally confirmed its participation in such discussions.
Commenting on the potential talks, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told NBC News that indirect and direct communications between the two nations were ongoing.
The U.S. launched airstrikes last Saturday on three key nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, deploying 125 military aircraft in the operation.
New satellite images reportedly show six craters surrounding two entrances to the Fordow nuclear site, with similar damage visible in Isfahan. However, the extent of destruction to the underground facilities remains unclear.
A Pentagon intelligence report leaked on Tuesday claimed the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear program by “only a few months.” Defense Secretary Hegseth later remarked that this assessment was made with “low confidence.”
Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said yesterday that there’s a possibility Iran might relocate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in the wake of the attacks.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Iran’s nuclear facilities had sustained significant damage, although he declined to provide further details.