CIA director confirms Iran nuclear sites 'severely damaged'

In an unusual move on Wednesday, CIA director John Ratcliffe released a statement confirming that the US strikes on Iran's three nuclear sites last week "severely damaged" the facilities.

This follows US media reports that US intelligence assessments found the strikes only set Iran back a few months. That reporting had visibly angered US President Donald Trump, who maintains the sites were "totally obliterated". 

"CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran's Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes," Ratcliffe said.

"This includes new intelligence from an historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years," he added.

"CIA continues to collect additional reliably sourced information to keep appropriate decision-makers and oversight bodies fully informed. When possible, we will also provide updates and information to the American public, given the national importance of this matter and in every
attempt to provide transparency."