CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Wednesday made a rare public defense of President Donald Trump, asserting that the recent bombing campaign against Iran “severely damaged” the country’s nuclear enrichment program.
Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman appointed by Trump, has largely stayed out of the administration’s public pushback against reports downplaying the effectiveness of the strikes—but broke that pattern with his latest remarks. On Thursday, however, he cited a “body of credible intelligence” suggesting that Trump is correct to characterize Iran’s nuclear program as being “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. This includes new intelligence from a 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 noted in a statement.
Ratcliffe explained that the agency is collaborating with Israeli partners and confidential sources to further evaluate the long-term impact of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. “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,” he said.
Ratcliffe’s assessment aligns with a separate analysis by Israeli intelligence, which concluded that Iran’s nuclear program has been delayed by at least two years. Trump has cited this intelligence to push back against reporting from CNN and The New York Times that downplays the effectiveness of the strikes.
The CIA’s evaluation gives Trump a potent narrative as he seeks to claim credit for the operation, which initially split his supporters between pro-intervention and isolationist factions. It also underscores how seriously the administration is treating media reports suggesting the bombing fell short of its intended impact.
On Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made equally compelling claims that U.S. intelligence forces under her command have reached similar conclusions to those by the CIA.
“New intelligence confirms what @POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do,” Gabbard wrote on social media.
“The propaganda media has deployed their usual tactic: selectively release portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments (intentionally leaving out the fact that the assessment was written with “low confidence”) to try to undermine President Trump’s decisive leadership and the brave servicemen and women who flawlessly executed a truly historic mission to keep the American people safe and secure,” Gabbard added.
