Washington: CIA Director John Ratcliffe has stated that, according to reliable intelligence, U.S. strikes have caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear program, several key facilities have been completely destroyed.

In an interview, John Ratcliffe  said that the available sources and methods are highly reliable and accurate, confirming this assessment. He also mentioned that it will take Iran years to rebuild these facilities.

Ratcliffe further stated that U.S. intelligence efforts to gather information are ongoing to ensure decision-makers are fully informed. He also assured that when the time is right, the public will be informed about these strikes.

It comes a day after a leaked preliminary assessment from a Pentagon intelligence agency suggested core components of Iran’s nuclear program remained intact after the US bombings.

President Trump again maintained the raid had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The Republican president took to social media on Wednesday to post that the “fake news” media had “lied and totally misrepresented the facts, none of which they had”.

He said Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and other military officials would hold an “interesting and irrefutable” news conference on Thursday at the Pentagon “in order to fight for the Dignity of our Great American Pilots”.