Exclusive: Early US intel assessment suggests
strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear
sites, sources say
CNN,
by
Natasha Bertrand *
Original Article
Posted By: Dreadnought,
6/24/2025 4:02:28 PM
The US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities last weekend did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment that was described by four people briefed on it.
The assessment, which has not been previously reported, was produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s intelligence arm. It is based on a battle damage assessment conducted by US Central Command in the aftermath of the US strikes, one of the sources said.
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Reply 1 - Posted by:
Turninggrey 6/24/2025 4:07:40 PM (No. 1968960)
This is more than likely 100% BS, but in the alternative….the DIA still has moles. They must be rooted out and charged.
29 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
WV.Hillbilly 6/24/2025 4:11:31 PM (No. 1968962)
CNN
37 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Hermoine 6/24/2025 4:14:30 PM (No. 1968964)
I call BS. It is after all, CNN.
33 people like this.
A non-credible "news" source citing an anonymous source.
I am more inclined to believe there is a secret Nazi base in Antarctica.
33 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
WhamDBambam 6/24/2025 4:24:21 PM (No. 1968970)
CNN. "(D)escribed by four people briefed on it."
That's what they always say.
18 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Mofongo 6/24/2025 4:24:28 PM (No. 1968971)
Most likely fabricated. But if not, treason.
15 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
earlybird 6/24/2025 4:27:38 PM (No. 1968974)
Natasha Bertrand is a known liar/propagandist. Let's wait for another report
24 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
MindMadeUp 6/24/2025 4:31:36 PM (No. 1968978)
The "sources" being a couple of bug-eyed liberal women they met in a bar.
24 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
snakeoil 6/24/2025 4:33:11 PM (No. 1968979)
Every Iranian should hope the damage was severe. If not the B2s are available for an encore.
29 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
wilarrbie 6/24/2025 4:41:47 PM (No. 1968981)
Did too. Did not. Yes they did. Nuh-uh. Uh-huh. ~ American Journalism.
22 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
rochow 6/24/2025 4:42:39 PM (No. 1968983)
CNN. Figures.
13 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
BarryNo 6/24/2025 4:43:16 PM (No. 1968985)
It's CNN and their sources. Not dependable news site.
15 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
Mcscow sailor 6/24/2025 4:46:27 PM (No. 1968989)
FWIW, convention bombs do not “destroy” enriched uranium. They might spread itvariund, mix it up with dirt, or, hopefully bury it so deep and mixed up that extraction is not reasonable.
10 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
BarryNo 6/24/2025 4:49:04 PM (No. 1968990)
Let me put it this way: I have doubts we destroyed those sites. But that's me. Unless I see the body, I don't believe a death.
It would not surprise me to learn Iran moved material off site as the conflict escalated. But Fordow was their most secure site. I'd need to see test results and radiation levels.
Frankly, we should have done this with North Korea.
Only time and a lot of intelligence research will tell the truth.
7 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
LC Chihuahua 6/24/2025 4:59:17 PM (No. 1968992)
CNN vomit. Any criticism will do in the hope of eroding Trump's support.
Interesting question though. How long will it take Iran to recover from this?
11 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
JHHolliday 6/24/2025 5:02:19 PM (No. 1968993)
They may not have "destroyed" The whole inner core but they sure as hell collapsed the tunnels, utilities etc. There are probably some of the unfortunate devils trapped within. At any rate, the mountain won't be usable for months or even years to come.
CNN just can't bring themselves to credit Trump for anything and let's not forget the Israeli Air Force destroying Iranian aircraft, missile sites, command headquarters, etc. etc.
29 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
Nimby 6/24/2025 5:02:22 PM (No. 1968994)
CNN- ROFLMAO
13 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
Starboard_side 6/24/2025 5:10:43 PM (No. 1968997)
I would not trust anything the Clown News Network ever reported, despite any of the "experts" they bring on.
13 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
DVC 6/24/2025 5:45:32 PM (No. 1969001)
It's CNN, Jake.
16 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
MickTurn 6/24/2025 5:56:55 PM (No. 1969003)
Likely Democrat Scum still in the Intel agencies, what did we expect them to say.
I would wait until Iran started trying to recover their stuff, and HIT THEM AGAIN 100 times harder!
6 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
Kate318 6/24/2025 5:57:56 PM (No. 1969004)
#1, It’s CNN. #2, are these the same intel experts who just told us that Iran did not have nuclear capabilities?
13 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
john56 6/24/2025 6:12:54 PM (No. 1969009)
Well, if so, we can get some more bombs.
6 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Msquared112 6/24/2025 6:24:01 PM (No. 1969015)
CNN?.....Right.
6 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
conservincali 6/24/2025 6:24:58 PM (No. 1969016)
How many feet of sand are on top of these sites? 400? They needed special bombs to get to them. But now within 72 hours we have reports that they failed? I would question reports that they totally destroyed the sites. We don't know because they're still buried.
3 people like this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
Hermit_Crab 6/24/2025 6:39:57 PM (No. 1969024)
The ONE thing of which you can be absolutely certain:
NO ONE will ever tell the whole truth about this.
Everyone has a vested interest in lying about it.
8 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
Tennman 6/24/2025 6:41:09 PM (No. 1969026)
Stories out there, including NYP, that beg to differ. But CNN won't let actual info get in the way of TDS.
6 people like this.
Reply 27 - Posted by:
anniebc 6/24/2025 7:44:44 PM (No. 1969031)
CNN is the acronym for liars.
5 people like this.
Reply 28 - Posted by:
LeeBertie 6/24/2025 7:55:40 PM (No. 1969036)
Less than a hour ago Steve Witkoff told Laura Ingraham the opposite and explained how CNN and the leaked assessment are wrong.
Isfahan is the key, the first step in a three step process to weaponize enriched uranium. Two structures were involved, one above ground and one underground. The IDF destroyed the above ground structure and US bunker busters destroyed the underground one. Then just for good measure a second bunker buster wiped out the above ground one. Without the first step in the process there can be no second or third step. Fordow had housed the final step
3 people like this.
Reply 29 - Posted by:
NorCalXplnt 6/24/2025 9:05:55 PM (No. 1969053)
Liars.
2 people like this.
Reply 30 - Posted by:
hershey 6/24/2025 9:30:21 PM (No. 1969061)
So? Do it over again.....
1 person likes this.
Reply 31 - Posted by:
jasmine 6/24/2025 10:02:36 PM (No. 1969067)
Who were the individuals briefed on the damage assessment? It shouldn't be too difficult to sort out who was given that top secret information and figure out who the four "sources" responsible for leaking that information. The sooner the administration finds and exposes the perps, the better for everyone.
1 person likes this.
Reply 32 - Posted by:
Geoman 6/25/2025 1:18:00 AM (No. 1969105)
All anyone thinks they know about the bombing raid on Iran is through reporting, which is often highly subjective based on the mindset of the reporters. Those consuming reporting (readers/watchers) tend to believe whom and what they wish to believe. Naysayers are quick to believe reports of mission failure, while avid supporters of any given president/administration will take every pronouncement as gospel truth. When Trump announced the bombing, he stated that Iran's nuclear weapons facilities had been "obliterated;" however, there is no way to know that, a half world away, short of having personnel and/or sophisticated instrumentation with communications capability within the facilities. Even the composition of the strike package (number of bombers and ordnance dropped) was very inconsistently reported during the 24 hours after the bombing took place. That the USAF placed bombs on their targets as seen from the surface, or slightly above the surface, is at least semi-conclusive at this point; however, dust on the surface does not mean that an underground facility was destroyed, even though I suspect one or more facilities were destroyed. The reported depth of the Fordow facility was fairly consistently reported as 300 feet below the surface. Some reports state that the 300 feet of overburden consisted of hard rock granite, while others suggested more unconsolidated overburden. As a geologist having drilled in granite and having used explosives in hard rock, the blast effects of explosives vary widely depending on the compression, extension, or degree of consolidation of the bedrock materials. To accept the claim of total facility obliteration without assessing the impacts of detonation, which reportedly occurred 300 feet underground, is like saying that a cancer patient who has been subject to specific levels and types of radiation targeting specific cancer cells, is 'cured of cancer,' with no further examination necessary. The report of mission failure is equally subjective. We interested citizens may never know specific details of the effectiveness of the mission.
1 person likes this.
Reply 33 - Posted by:
mifla 6/25/2025 8:00:28 AM (No. 1969177)
And if Obama had bombed the sites, the MSM would be declaring that Iran's nuclear projects were dead and buried, all thanks to St Barry.
0 people like this.
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