Bruce's lengthy statement continued, "Prior to the United States' successful military operation, Iran was amassing a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there was no credible peaceful purpose, and it was the only state producing highly enriched uranium, up to 60%, that does not have nuclear weapons."

White House officials continue to swagger, but there may be less cause for optimism than they would have the public believe

Republicans Break with Trump on Iran. Story by John Baker • 16m. 1 / 8

Several experts have cautioned that Iran likely moved a stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium out of the deeply buried Fordow site before the strikes and could be hiding it.

Defence Secretary Hegseth called the leaked intel premature after an initial Pentagon assessment said Tehran's nuclear program was delayed by only a few months.

Some experts said they believe the U.S. strikes have the potential to lead to a "fork-in-the-road" moment that could result in Tehran taking an even more dangerous path.