US Intel Counters Israel's Claim, Says Iran Three Years Away From Making Nuclear Weapon

Last Updated:June 17, 2025, 16:58 IST

Israel said its attack on Iran was to prevent it from building a nuclear weapon, but US intelligence assessments said Iran was three years away from building such a weapon.

At least 224 people have been killed in Iran due to Israeli strikes. (Reuters)

Israel’s recent strikes on Iran, which have killed hundreds of people and exacerbated fears of a regional war, were based on the pretext that Iran was very close to building a nuclear weapon, almost to the “point of no return". However, US intelligence reports have reached a different conclusion that contradicts Israel’s claim.

A US assessment has determined that not only was Iran not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon, it was also up to three years away from being able to produce and deliver one to a target of its choosing, four people familiar with the report told CNN.

At least 224 civilians, including women and children, have been killed in Israel’s attack on Iran, according to the Iranian embassy in New Delhi. Most of Iran’s military leadership was killed along with several senior nuclear scientists.

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How Has Israel Impacted Iran’s Nuclear Programme?

Israel was believed to have set back Iran’s nuclear programme by several years by destroying crucial parts of its key nuclear facilities. However, US intelligence officials believe that so far, Israel may have set back Iran’s nuclear program by only a matter of months, according to an American official.

Even as Israel has done significant damage to Iran’s facility at Natanz, which houses centrifuges necessary to enrich uranium, a second, heavily fortified enrichment site at Fordow has remained effectively untouched and is expected to remain so without the help of specific US weapons and aerial support.

Israel’s attacks came after the UN’s Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran had amassed enough uranium enriched at levels just below weapons-grade to potentially make nine nuclear bombs. However, Trump’s Director of Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, testified in March that the US intelligence community “continues to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon".

When asked about Gabbard’s testimony, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News: “The intel we got and we shared with the United States was absolutely clear, was absolutely clear that they were working, in a secret plan to weaponise the uranium."

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‘Iran Cannot Have A Nuclear Weapon’

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has called for talks between Iran and Israel “before it’s too late" as he left the G7 Summit early due to the developments in West Asia. He has also hinted at US involvement in the conflict.

“IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" he said on his Truth Social platform. He later denied he had rushed back to work on a ceasefire, saying he wanted a “real end".

Iran has retaliated to the Israeli attack by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 wounded.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world US Intel Counters Israel's Claim, Says Iran Three Years Away From Making Nuclear Weapon