The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency said on Wednesday that intelligence indicates Iran’s nuclear program was “severely damaged” during the Islamic Republic’s 12-day war with Israel.

“CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s nuclear program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” according to a statement attributed to agency director John Ratcliffe.

“This includes new intelligence from a historically reliable and accurate source indicating that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would need to be rebuilt over the course of years,” the statement continued.

The agency “continues to collect additional reliably sourced information to keep appropriate decision-makers and oversight bodies fully informed. When possible, we will also provide updates and information to the American public, given the national importance of this matter and in every attempt to provide transparency,” it added.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed the aftermath of American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, describing the operation, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” as a decisive blow.

Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump said, “We hear it was obliteration. It was a virtual obliteration.”

He emphasized the scale of the attack, stating, “I don’t believe they had a chance to get anything out because we acted fast.” Israel, he added, was “doing a report on it now, I understand. And I was told that they said it was total obliteration. You know, they have guys that go in there after the hit, and they say it was total obliteration.”

Trump on Tuesday forcefully pushed back against media reports and leaked intelligence assessments suggesting that the U.S. strikes had had limited effect on Tehran’s nuclear program.

He took to Truth Social to denounce CNN and The New York Times, which reported that the strikes on the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites had not eliminated Iran’s core nuclear capabilities but likely delayed them by several months.

“Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed!” Trump wrote.

U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff echoed the president’s confidence, stating, “We put 12 bunker buster bombs on Fordow. There’s no doubt that it breached the canopy… and there’s no doubt that it was obliterated. So, the reporting out there that in some way suggests that we did not achieve the objective is just completely preposterous!”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also dismissed the leaks, insisting, “Our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. … Anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”

In a statement issued early on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Trump, crediting Washington with playing a key role in defending Israel and helping eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat.

“Israel has never had as great a friend in the White House,” Netanyahu said, adding that the joint operation carried far-reaching implications for Jerusalem’s security and the future of the Middle East.

The premier emphasized that the IDF had struck at the core of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure, effectively sending it “to oblivion,” while warning that its attempts to rebuild would be met with the same force by Israel.

Image -  Iranian Presidency Office/WANA