US Strikes Severely Damage Iran&rsquo;s Nuclear Facilities, Delaying Programme by Two Years: Pentagon
Fresh satellite imagery and internal intelligence assessments have confirmed that the recent <a title="US" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/defence/congress-proposes-b-2-access-to-israel-for-iran-strike/15618" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a> strikes on Iran&rsquo;s nuclear sites have significantly degraded Tehran&rsquo;s atomic programme, according to a formal statement issued by the Pentagon. Contrary to earlier speculation that the damage inflicted was limited, the latest evaluation suggests a substantial setback &mdash; potentially delaying Iran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions by up to two years.
Ten days ago, on 22 June, the United States, in coordination with Israel, launched a highly coordinated aerial assault targeting three of Iran&rsquo;s principal nuclear installations: <a title="Iran" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/trump-claims-us-bombed-iran-s-fordo-nuke-facility/14516" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fordow</a>, Natanz and Isfahan. The strike employed over 30 bunker-buster bombs, each weighing around 13,500 kilograms, along with Tomahawk cruise missiles, aimed at penetrating deeply fortified underground infrastructure.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell said, &ldquo;We have degraded their programme by one to two years. That&rsquo;s the current intelligence assessment.&rdquo; He added that the targeted facilities were &ldquo;completely obliterated&rdquo;, based on post-strike surveillance and satellite reconnaissance.
Parnell&rsquo;s statement marked a more measured tone than President Donald Trump&rsquo;s initial reaction. In the immediate aftermath of the strikes, Trump had declared that Iran&rsquo;s nuclear capacity had been set back &ldquo;by decades&rdquo; and described the facilities as &ldquo;totally obliterated&rdquo;. However, the Pentagon now appears to be tempering that optimism with more conservative, albeit still significant, projections.
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This updated US assessment also contradicts public comments made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Over the weekend, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that Iran could potentially resume uranium enrichment within a matter of months. &ldquo;They can have... a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium,&rdquo; Grossi said, cautioning that &ldquo;not everything has disappeared&rdquo;.
Further complicating the picture, independent experts have suggested that Iran may have moved substantial quantities of already-enriched uranium to undisclosed locations before the strikes. These stockpiles, reportedly approaching weapons-grade levels, would have been a top priority for preservation in anticipation of such attacks.
Despite this, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials have asserted that there is no credible intelligence confirming any pre-emptive transfer or concealment of enriched uranium. These statements from Washington further clash with expert opinions and international watchdog assessments.
From the Iranian side, there has been partial acknowledgement of the damage. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conceded that the Fordow site had sustained serious destruction, stating, &ldquo;No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged.&rdquo;
In response to the strikes and escalating tensions with the West, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered a suspension of cooperation with the IAEA. This directive, reported by Iranian state media on Wednesday, follows a law recently passed by Iran&rsquo;s parliament and approved by the Guardian Council, signalling a broader institutional pushback against international oversight.
While the precise extent of the damage remains classified, the evolving US narrative reflects a growing confidence in the operational success of the 22 June strikes. At the same time, the international community remains wary of Tehran&rsquo;s capacity to rapidly recover and resume nuclear activities in defiance of oversight and pressure.

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July 3, 2025 | 22:00 IST