Pentagon Claims Iran's Nuclear Program Experienced Resignation Up To Two Years After US Bombing

US Department of Defense. (Wikimedia Commons/mariordo59)

JAKARTA - The United States Department of Defense on Wednesday said the attack launched the country 10 days ago caused Iran's nuclear program to decline for up to two years, suggesting US military operations were likely to achieve its goals, although a much more careful initial assessment had been leaked to the public.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell conveyed the figure at a briefing to reporters, adding official estimates "may be close to two years," although there is no evidence to support his assessment.

"We have lowered their program for one to two years, at least an intelligence assessment within the Department (Detention) assesses it," Parnell told a briefing.

US military bombers carried out attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, using more than a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-destroying bombs (13,600 kg), after previously a preliminary strike with more than two dozen Tomahawk ground-attack cruise missiles.

US intelligence developments on the impact of the attack were closely monitored, after President Donald Trump said as soon as the attack took place, Iran's program had been destroyed, a language echoed by Parnell at Wednesday's briefing.

Such inclusion often takes weeks or more for the US intelligence community to determine it.

"All the intelligence we have seen (have) led us to believe that Iran, particularly those facilities, has been completely destroyed," Parnell said.

Earlier, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran could produce enriched uranium within months, raising doubts about how effectively US attacks to destroy Tehran's nuclear program.

Some experts have also warned that Iran may have moved supplies of high-level enriched uranium closer to weapons from the Fordow site buried in pre-attacks and could hide it.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week he was unaware of intelligence indicating Iran had removed highly enriched uranium to protect it from US attacks.

An initial assessment last week from the Defense Intelligence Service indicated the attack may have only slowed Iran's nuclear program for several months.

However, Trump's administration officials said the assessment was less convincing and had been defeated by intelligence indicating Iran's nuclear program was badly damaged.

According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the attack on the Fordow nuclear site caused severe damage.

"No one knows exactly what happened at Fordow. Even so, what we know so far is that the facility has been badly damaged and is severe," Foreign Minister Araghchi said in an interview broadcast by CBS News on Tuesday.