US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to hold a news conference on Thursday to provide an updated assessment of American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following growing debate over the extent of the damage inflicted.
The strikes came after nearly two weeks of escalating violence between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13 with Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear targets, prompting retaliatory missile launches from Tehran.
Over the weekend, the United States joined the fray, targeting three of Iran’s key nuclear sites. While President Trump claimed the strikes had “obliterated” the facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordo site, internal assessments in Washington reportedly paint a more cautious picture.
According to a classified analysis first reported by CNN, the strikes may have only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. Questions have also emerged about whether Iran was able to relocate as much as 400kg of enriched uranium before the attacks.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected those claims, saying there was “no indication” that Iran had moved any nuclear material beforehand. She insisted that the sites were now buried under “miles and miles of rubble.”
CIA Director John Ratcliffe echoed the administration’s position, saying several of Iran’s nuclear facilities had been destroyed and would take years to rebuild.
Israel, which has long opposed Iran’s nuclear ambitions, said it had dealt a significant blow but admitted it was “too early” to assess the full impact.
Iran, meanwhile, acknowledged that key installations had been badly hit. “That’s for sure,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told Al Jazeera.
The conflict has taken a heavy human toll. Iran’s Health Ministry reported at least 627 civilian deaths from Israeli airstrikes, while Israeli authorities said Iran’s retaliatory attacks killed 28 people.
The war has also claimed high-profile figures. Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, was killed in an Israeli strike. A state funeral will now be held Saturday in Tehran for Salami and other senior figures, including nuclear scientists.
Despite the violence, both countries have started to ease wartime restrictions. Iran reopened airspace over its eastern region on Wednesday, though Tehran remains closed to air traffic. In Tel Aviv, residents expressed relief over the ceasefire. “Finally, we can sleep peacefully,” one local said.
Looking ahead, President Trump said the United States would resume talks with Iran next week. He expressed hope for a peace agreement, though he acknowledged: “We may sign an agreement. I don’t know.”
While Iran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons, it has reaffirmed its right to peaceful nuclear energy and says it is open to renewed negotiations.
The 12-day conflict has been the most destructive open confrontation between Israel and Iran, marking a dangerous escalation in their decades-long shadow war.