CIA chief says Iran nuclear site 'severely damaged' by US strikes - despite leaked report claiming the impact was minimal

The caput of the CIA has said a "body of credible intelligence" indicates that Iran's atomic programme was "severely damaged" by a US cognition past weekend.

Director John Ratcliffe revealed that accusation from a "historically reliable and close source" suggests respective cardinal sites were destroyed - and volition instrumentality years to rebuild.

This contrasts with a precocious leaked study from the US Defence Department that formed uncertainty connected the effectiveness of Operation Midnight Hammer.

An appraisal obtained by respective media outlets concluded that bombing of 3 atomic facilities mightiness lone person acceptable backmost Iran's capabilities by a fewer months.

Donald Trump has refuted this leak successful the strongest imaginable presumption - describing it arsenic "fake news" and insisting the military's targets were "totally obliterated".

The US president went connected to uncover that defence caput Pete Hegseth volition beryllium holding a "major quality conference" connected Thursday day that volition beryllium "interesting and irrefutable".

On Truth Social, helium claimed that the "Great American Pilots" progressive successful the cognition were "very upset" by the leaked report.

"After 36 hours of dangerously flying done Enemy Territory, they landed, they knew the Success was LEGENDARY, and then, 2 days later, they started speechmaking Fake News by CNN and The Failing New York Times," helium wrote.

In different developments, Mr Trump has confirmed the US volition beryllium holding talks with Iran adjacent week, but said helium doesn't deliberation an statement to curtail its atomic programme is needed.

The president joined chap satellite leaders astatine a NATO acme successful The Hague, wherever members agreed to summation defence spending to 5% of GDP.