In a rare Farsi-language statement posted on social media, the Israeli army declared that Iran’s nuclear program had not merely been disrupted but had suffered “serious, extensive, and deep damage.” The statement read:

“The damage to the nuclear program is not a pinpoint damage but a systemic one — the cumulative achievement allows us to say that Iran’s nuclear project has suffered serious, extensive, and deep damage and has been set back by years.”

According to the military’s Intelligence Directorate, the impact was far-reaching enough to hinder Iran’s ability to produce weapons of mass destruction for an extended period.

US Intelligence Paints a Different Picture

The Israeli assessment contradicts a recent US intelligence analysis reviewed by CNN and The New York Times, which reportedly concluded the impact of the strikes would delay Iran’s program only by a few months.

This divergence underscores the geopolitical and strategic tensions between public narratives. President Donald Trump, who ordered the operation and later called it the “12-day war,” had claimed the strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity — a term used before official damage assessments were available.

Part of a Broader Strategy

The Israeli strikes were part of a broader campaign that involved both military and cyber operations targeting Iranian nuclear sites and high-ranking military officials. The scale and duration of the attacks have renewed debate over whether strategic decapitation or sabotage can genuinely halt Iran’s ambitions.

Despite the disagreement with US intelligence, Israel’s tone suggested confidence that the attacks had achieved more than just a temporary disruption.

Background: The “12-Day War” and Its Fallout

The declaration followed a high-intensity two-week period of hostilities between Iran and Israel, during which Israeli and US forces conducted coordinated operations. According to Trump, the operation’s goal was to “neutralize” Iran’s capacity for nuclear escalation.

While Iran has not yet offered a full damage report, international atomic monitors have begun assessing facilities at Natanz and Fordow. Trump has also suggested that diplomatic talks with Iran will resume in the coming days, leveraging what he calls “American strength.”