The US has been 'holding back' Iran's nuclear program for nearly two years.
U.S. allies agreed on the outcome of the attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, setting the country's program back by nearly two years.
According to TASS on July 3, US Department of Defense spokesman Sean Parnel said that the US believes its attack on Iran has "slowed down" the country's nuclear program by two years.
According to Parnel, U.S. allies agree that after the attack on three nuclear facilities in Iran, the U.S. is believed to have "slowed down Iran's nuclear program by one or two years."
"That's the assessment of the US Department of Defense's intelligence agencies," Parnell said.
"I think we've delayed it by about two years. We've pushed their program back by two years," Parnell continued, telling reporters on July 2nd.
Earlier, CNN, citing sources, reported that US intelligence believed its attacks on Iran did not destroy key components of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. According to preliminary intelligence assessments, the attack likely only delayed Tehran's acquisition of an atomic bomb by a few months, CNN noted. This assessment, based on analysis conducted by the US Central Command following the US attacks, was made by personnel from the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). CNN's sources indicated that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles were not destroyed and the centrifuges were largely "undamaged."
The White House said CNN's report was false and called the leak "a clear attempt to humiliate President Donald Trump."
From June 13 to 24, Israel conducted daily airstrikes on Iran. The objective of this operation was reportedly to destroy the Islamic Republic's missile and nuclear programs. Tehran retaliated by shelling Israeli territory with missiles and drones.
The US joined the conflict on the night of June 22nd, attacking three nuclear facilities in Iran. On the evening of June 23rd, Tehran launched a missile attack on the largest US air base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
According to US authorities, there were no casualties and no significant damage occurred. Subsequently, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a complete ceasefire. The ceasefire took effect on June 24th.
