US and European intelligence assessments appeared to clash over the impact of last week’s air strikes on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and uranium stockpiles.
A leaked Defense Intelligence Agency report had suggested the US strikes set back Tehran’s ambitions by only a few months, but the CIA on Wednesday said more up-to-date intelligence indicated key facilities were destroyed and would take years to rebuild.
Meanwhile, a preliminary intelligence assessment provided to European governments suggested that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was not concentrated in Fordo, and had been distributed to other locations ahead of the US strikes, the Financial Times reported.
The contradicting reports come after US President Donald Trump said the US attack had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, with the administration vowing to investigate the DIA report leak.