The debate in the United States has resurfaced regarding the extent of the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear facilities due to American strikes during the war that took place in June between Israel and Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian president has acknowledged security breaches during the conflict.
According to a report from NBC News, citing current and former U.S. officials familiar with the situation, a new U.S. assessment concluded that the American strikes mainly destroyed only one of the three Iranian nuclear sites, while the others did not sustain damage of the same magnitude.
The network’s report, based on information from current officials, indicated that the assault on the Fordow nuclear facility successfully delayed its uranium enrichment capabilities by up to two years. Furthermore, the other two facilities were not as heavily impacted.
The attack may have weakened them only to the extent that Iran could resume enrichment in the coming months if desired; however, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated to the network: “As the president and experts have indicated, the Midnight Hammer operation completely dismantled Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”
Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon), told NBC that President Donald Trump “was clear, and the American people know that the Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz were entirely eradicated.”
A preliminary evaluation from the Defense Intelligence Agency in June suggested that the strikes may have only delayed the Iranian nuclear program by a few months, but Trump administration officials dismissed this assessment as unreliable, opting to rely on intelligence indicating that the Iranian program had been severely harmed.
In related developments, Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian admitted for the first time yesterday that the country faced security failures during the war against Israel. During a cabinet meeting in Tehran, he stated: “We must analyze and address the security deficiencies that became evident during the conflict,” according to the Iranian newspaper.
Throughout the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, several high-ranking Iranian military leaders were killed in their private residences.
In addition to military and nuclear sites, relatively unknown targets were also attacked. Experts believe that such strikes would not have been possible without inside information. Speculation has been rife for several weeks regarding an extensive collaboration between elements of the Iranian security apparatus and Israeli intelligence, the Mossad. In this context, several individuals have already been arrested on charges of spying for Mossad, and Iran has executed a number of people after convicting them of collaborating with Israel.
For Iran’s Benefit
Conversely, the Israeli police and the internal security agency (Shin Bet) announced yesterday that Israeli authorities had charged a soldier with espionage for Iran in exchange for money.
The statement revealed that the unnamed soldier sent videos to the Iranians showing missile interceptions in the air, as well as locations struck by Iranian rocket fire during the conflict.
The news of the charges came just one day after Israel launched an unusual nationwide media campaign warning citizens against spying for Iran. The advertisements stated that individuals who accepted Iranian funds in exchange for information face prison sentences of up to 15 years.