In a recent intelligence review, US agencies have confirmed that Iran was neither actively building a nuclear bomb nor close to producing one anytime soon. The assessment directly contradicts Israel’s claims that Tehran was just months away from acquiring nuclear weapons.
According to a CNN report citing four individuals familiar with classified US reviews, Iran is still at least three years away from being able to build and deliver a nuclear weapon. These sources added that Iran has not taken any major steps toward weaponization.
However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, offered a more urgent analysis. CENTCOM believes Iran could quickly make a weapon if it suddenly decides to do so, although such a move hasn’t been observed yet.
Meanwhile, reports from the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, confirm that Iran has enriched uranium to levels required for a bomb. Yet, it has not made any clear move to weaponize it or turn it into a warhead.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Israel shared clear intelligence with the US, showing Iran was secretly moving fast toward weaponization. He expressed frustration over differing assessments between US and Israeli intelligence agencies.
US officials also noted that Israel’s recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear program may have delayed progress by only a few months. Experts believe that to cause long-term damage to Iran’s underground Fordow facility, Israel would need direct military assistance from the United States.