Politics
Iran Can Rebuild Nukes in Months, Says U.S. Intel
Bolanle Media Press Room
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2025
White House touts “obliterating” airstrikes; intelligence warns recovery could be swift
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new U.S. intelligence assessment has cast doubt on the long-term effectiveness of last week’s military strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While President Donald Trump has publicly declared the operation a decisive blow — describing the targeted sites as “obliterated” — internal briefings delivered to lawmakers suggest Iran may be able to rebuild its nuclear program in six to nine months.
The airstrikes, carried out over a 36-hour window, targeted several high-priority facilities tied to uranium enrichment and centrifuge development. According to Pentagon sources, the operation was designed to cripple Iran’s progress and force compliance with renewed U.S. demands.
However, according to three sources familiar with the intelligence, Iran had previously dispersed much of its critical nuclear development across decentralized or underground sites — some of which were not targeted in the operation. The result, analysts say, is a delay in operations but not a dismantling of the core program.
“This was not a surgical decapitation. It was a serious blow, yes, but Iran has prepared for this exact scenario,” said one intelligence official on condition of anonymity.
“They’ve decentralized, trained new engineers, and built enough redundancy to rebuild quickly.”
White House vs. Intelligence: A Growing Divide?
President Trump, speaking in Palm Beach on Sunday, claimed the strikes were “historic in scope and effect” and that Iran’s ability to threaten the region had been “permanently neutralized.” But behind closed doors, national security briefings are far more cautious.
Lawmakers across party lines have expressed concern about the messaging mismatch. Some Republican allies have echoed Trump’s tone publicly but have pressed for more details in classified briefings. Democrats have warned that overstating success could backfire diplomatically and militarily.
“This administration is playing a dangerous game of optics over outcomes,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD).
“If Iran can recover this quickly, we’re back at square one — only now with fewer options on the table.”
Global Reactions and Regional Tensions
The strikes have rattled the region. In Israel, officials welcomed the move, calling it a long-overdue response to a persistent threat. Israeli Prime Minister Isaac Nachman issued a statement thanking the U.S. for “taking decisive action where diplomacy had failed.”
In contrast, European Union leaders expressed deep concern over the escalation, urging both restraint and renewed talks. In Tehran, officials denounced the strikes as “a flagrant act of war” and vowed a “calculated and proportionate” response.
So far, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains in place, though both sides have reported minor violations in the past 48 hours. Iranian media has downplayed the extent of the damage, while satellite imagery reviewed by independent analysts shows significant destruction at several key facilities.
What Comes Next
Experts say Iran may now push its nuclear ambitions deeper into covert operations — a move that would make detection and deterrence significantly harder. The country’s nuclear program, already resilient from years of sanctions and cyberattacks, has become more agile and harder to monitor.
With international talks frozen and retaliatory threats looming, the U.S. may find itself in a strategic bind: having struck first, but not struck deep enough to change the long-term trajectory.
© 2025 Bolanle Media. All rights reserved.