Trump’s strikes on Iran set back nuclear program by months, initial intel assessment finds– www.cbsnews.com

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An initial classified assessment found the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities set back Tehran’s nuclear program by a matter of months, according to three sources familiar with its contents.

The assessment, produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s military intelligence wing, said the strikes caused the entrances to two nuclear enrichment facilities, including Fordo, to be sealed off. Resumption of the enrichment program may be determined by how long it takes Iran to clear the entrances and make repairs to electrical and water supplies, two sources familiar with the report’s findings said.

The DIA assessment also indicates some of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was moved before the strikes, one of the sources said.

Officials familiar with the report cautioned that it was an early assessment that could change as more information becomes available about the sites. It was not immediately clear at what confidence level the judgments included in the report were made.

A complete battle damage assessment is still being assembled, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said on Sunday at a press availability.

“Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,” Caine said.