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U.S. Strikes on Iran Spark Conflicting Intelligence Reports and Renewed Nuclear Concerns
The Trump administration has doubled down on claims that its recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities caused “severe damage,” following leaked assessments that cast doubt on the operation’s long-term impact. The conflicting reports have sparked debate within Washington’s intelligence and defense communities over the true extent of the damage and the future of Iran’s nuclear program.
On Wednesday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said new intelligence confirmed that key Iranian nuclear sites were “destroyed” and would take “years” to rebuild. While he did not go as far as declaring the program eliminated, he said the damage was significant enough to degrade Iran’s capabilities.
This follows a leaked preliminary assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which concluded that Iran’s nuclear program had suffered only temporary setbacks and that some operations could resume within months. The DIA also reported that much of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile had been relocated before the strikes — a claim the head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said was plausible.
President Donald Trump, who initially hailed the use of U.S. bunker-buster bombs at the Fordow and Natanz sites as a “spectacular military success,” dismissed the DIA report and accused the media of spreading “fake news.” However, during a NATO summit in The Hague, he appeared to soften his stance, calling the intelligence “inconclusive” before later insisting the strikes had set Iran back “decades.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the damage as “moderate to severe” and rejected the DIA report as inaccurate. Israeli officials have supported the U.S. position, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stating that the Fordow facility had been rendered “inoperable” and that the joint U.S.-Israeli operation had pushed back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by years.
Independent experts, however, urged caution. Jeffrey Lewis, a nonproliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute, told the Associated Press that assessing the extent of the damage so soon after the strikes was premature. “Either it’s too early to know, or you know,” he said.
The IAEA confirmed “extensive damage” at both Natanz and Fordow, noting visible impact points and disrupted infrastructure, but also emphasized that Iran retained the technical knowledge and capacity to rebuild its program. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi urged renewed diplomatic efforts and stressed the importance of allowing inspectors back into the affected sites.
As the U.S. and Iran prepare for possible diplomatic talks following nearly two weeks of open conflict between Israel and Iran, Trump dismissed the need for a formal agreement, claiming the damage inflicted would be deterrent enough. “They’ve had it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the IAEA continues to push for long-term solutions, warning against speculative timelines and emphasizing that Iran’s capabilities cannot be assessed by damage alone.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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