Intercepted Iranian communications suggest recent US military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program may have caused less damage than claimed.
According to The Washington Post, senior Iranian officials privately questioned why the attacks were not as destructive as expected.
The classified intelligence reportedly captured conversations indicating surprise at the limited outcome of the strikes ordered by former President Donald Trump.
A US intelligence official cautioned against overinterpreting the findings, noting that one intercepted call does not equal a full assessment.
Despite the leaks, Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintain the strikes “completely obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged serious damage but said vital materials had been relocated in advance, softening the long-term impact.
Trump dismissed those claims, insisting no evacuation occurred and that Iranian officials underestimated the scale of the operation.
Preliminary US intelligence assessments, cited by CNN and The New York Times, suggest the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear program by only a few months.
The White House pushed back, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe stating new intelligence indicates “severe damage” that could take years to recover from.
As competing narratives emerge, the true impact of the strikes remains clouded in the fog of secrecy and geopolitical messaging.