Pentagon Confirms US Strikes Set Back Iran Nuclear Program Up to Two Years

The Pentagon confirmed that U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, conducted under Operation Midnight Hammer, have set back Tehran's nuclear program by approximately one to two years, with officials leaning toward the longer end of this estimate. The strikes targeted key sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, using bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles, and were described as having severely degraded Iran's nuclear capabilities and ambitions. These assessments align with intelligence shared among U.S. allies and corroborated by officials from the CIA, Director of National Intelligence, and the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission. Despite initial conflicting reports suggesting minimal damage, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that the facilities were “completely obliterated.” Meanwhile, Iran has suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, raising international concern. The strikes followed escalating tensions and were ordered by President Trump in response to intelligence about Iran's nearing nuclear weapon capability and regional hostilities.