US strikes crippled one Iranian nuclear site, two others less affected: Report

This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies and dated July 1, 2025, shows activity near the perimeter building and southern holes caused by the June 22 US airstrike on the Fordo (Fordow) Fuel Enrichment Plant complex, about 30 kilometres north of Qom in central Iran.

A new US intelligence assessment has concluded that American strikes in June severely damaged one of Iran’s key nuclear facilities, while two others suffered only limited impact, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing current and former US officials.

According to the report, the strike on the Fordow nuclear site is believed to have significantly set back Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, potentially by up to two years. However, the two other targeted facilities sustained less damage, and officials believe they could become operational again within a few months if Iran decides to restart enrichment activities.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Reuters in an emailed statement: "As the President has said and experts have verified, Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran's nuclear capabilities."

The chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told NBC that Trump "was clear and the American people understand: Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz were completely and totally obliterated. There is no doubt about that."

The US launched strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last month, saying that they were part of a program geared towards developing nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its nuclear development is purely for civilian purposes.

A preliminary assessment in June from the Defense Intelligence Agency suggested that the strikes may have only set back Iran's nuclear program by months. But Trump administration officials said that assessment was low confidence and had been overtaken by intelligence showing Iran's nuclear program was severely damaged.

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