Intercepted Iranian communications suggest recent US military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program caused less damage than publicly claimed.
A report by The Washington Post, citing classified signals intelligence, indicates Iranian officials privately discussed why the attacks were not as destructive as anticipated.
The clandestine exchanges offer a rare glimpse into Tehran’s internal assessment of the strikes.
However, a senior US intelligence official cautioned against relying on a single piece of intelligence.
The official emphasized that one phone call does not represent a complete assessment.
The full intelligence picture requires multiple sources for accurate evaluation.
US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, among other top officials, maintain the strikes “completely obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites.
They assert a decisive victory in neutralizing a critical threat.
This strong stance contrasts with other assessments.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged serious damage to its facilities.
Yet, they stated key materials were moved beforehand, limiting long-term harm.
Trump vehemently rejects these evacuation claims.
He insists nothing was moved, arguing Iran did not believe the operation was feasible.
A preliminary US intelligence assessment, reported by CNN and The New York Times, suggested a setback of only a few months for Iran’s program.
The White House disputes this view.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated “new intelligence” confirms “severe damage,” requiring years for rebuilding.
