Preliminary DIA Report Says Key Iranian Facilities Survived Airstrikes, Enriched Uranium Likely Relocated
A classified initial assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has found that former President Donald Trump’s recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities did not destroy all targeted sites, contradicting claims made by Trump and his administration over the weekend.
According to two officials familiar with the report, the airstrikes—carried out by B2 bombers and US naval forces—only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months, rather than causing the long-term disruption touted by Trump during his nationally televised address.
Damage at Fordow and Natanz Less Severe Than Publicly Claimed
The preliminary battle damage assessment, conducted by US Central Command and analyzed by the DIA, found that critical nuclear infrastructure at Fordow and Natanz, including advanced centrifuges, could be restored within months. At Isfahan, where enriched uranium was believed to be stored, damage was reported but not total destruction.
This stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s statements, in which he claimed the United States had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities, describing the operation as a “spectacular military success.”
However, internal Pentagon briefings reportedly warned Trump’s national security team earlier this year that the GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs were unlikely to fully destroy Fordow, which is buried beneath up to 300 feet of bedrock in Iran’s Zagros Mountains.
Iran Moved Enriched Uranium Before Airstrikes, DIA Says
The DIA report also indicates that Iran preemptively moved a significant portion of its enriched uranium stockpile prior to the strikes. This includes up to 400kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which could potentially be used to develop a nuclear weapon if further refined.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed Monday that the IAEA can no longer account for Iran’s full stockpile, raising concerns over the possibility that it has been relocated to undisclosed nuclear sites.
Vice President JD Vance also acknowledged on Sunday that the US currently has no clear intelligence on the whereabouts of Iran’s enriched uranium, stating, “We are going to work in the coming weeks to ensure that we do something with that fuel.”
White House Pushes Back, Trump Lashes Out on Truth Social
Trump, apparently angered by media coverage of the DIA’s findings, posted in all caps on Truth Social Tuesday night: “THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED!”
The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, dismissed the intelligence assessment as an attempt to “demean President Trump and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission.”
At a Sunday news conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s assertion, claiming Iran’s nuclear program had been “obliterated.” Yet, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered a more cautious analysis, saying only that the three sites had “sustained severe damage” and that a final assessment was still pending.
Strategic Implications and Concerns Over Escalation
Experts caution that the limited success of the US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure could have major geopolitical ramifications, including potential retaliatory actions by Iran, further destabilization in the Middle East, and long-term implications for nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
Military analysts note that Fordow, the heavily fortified underground facility, has long been considered effectively immune to conventional weapons. During early 2025 briefings, officials from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency warned that only a tactical nuclear strike would likely be sufficient to fully destroy the site.
Despite these warnings, the US military executed the operation using 12 GBU-57 bombs at Fordow, 2 at Natanz, and approximately 30 Tomahawk missiles targeting Isfahan, in what appears to be the most aggressive US military action against Iran’s nuclear program to date.
As pressure mounts for clearer answers about the strike’s true impact, the final DIA report is expected to clarify whether the operation materially disrupted Iran’s nuclear ambitions—or merely delayed them.
