CIA Director: US Strikes Halted Iran's Nuclear Program for Years

CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed to members of Congress that the military attacks on Iran dealt a severe blow to Tehran's nuclear program, setting it back years.

According to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Ratcliffe explained during a secret session that the strike targeted Iran's sole metal conversion facility, a key element in producing materials necessary for making a nuclear bomb.

He pointed out that the vast majority of enriched uranium that Iran was storing remains buried under the rubble in Isfahan and Fordow facilities, meaning Tehran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon in the near future has been disrupted.

US President Donald Trump, on the other hand, stated in a TV interview that the Iranian nuclear program has been "obliterated like never before," affirming that this strike signifies the end of Iran's nuclear ambitions "at least for a period of time."

These statements come as the Trump administration continues to provide intelligence briefings to American lawmakers on the effectiveness of the strikes, amid escalating questions about the future of the nuclear deal and stability in the region following the recent ceasefire with Israel.