Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain largely unchanged since last year, according to a US intelligence memo seen by Reuters. The assessment suggests that the war in Iran, initiated by President Donald Trump, has done little to slow the country's nuclear progress.
War Objectives and Reality
A primary objective laid out by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the war's start on February 28 was to ensure Iran could not build a nuclear weapon. However, two months into the conflict, Tehran's nuclear program remains broadly unchanged since last year's US attack, intelligence sources told Reuters.
Limited Impact of Military Actions
While last year's Operation Midnight Hammer pushed back Iran's nuclear timeline by nine months to a year, the current US military actions have largely avoided striking nuclear targets. This has left Iran's capabilities intact.
Defense Secretary Hegseth dismissed the intelligence report as “speculation,” and the White House claimed success with Operation Epic Fury. However, Hegseth later told lawmakers that Iran “had not given up their nuclear ambitions.”
The memo underscores the challenges of using military force to halt Iran's nuclear program, as diplomatic and intelligence efforts continue to assess the threat.
