Daijiworld Media Network – Paris

Paris, Jul 9: Iran’s nuclear programme has suffered a significant setback due to recent US and Israeli strikes, according to France’s foreign intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner. Speaking to French news channel LCI on Tuesday, Lerner, who heads the DGSE intelligence agency, said that the attacks had ‘very, very delayed’ Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“Our assessment today is that every stage of the process from uranium enrichment to warhead design and missile integration was very seriously affected, very seriously damaged,” Lerner stated. He estimated the delay to be “undeniably various months, certainly.”

His comments enter a heated international debate, especially after US President Donald Trump claimed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was ‘obliterated’ by last month’s strikes. Trump’s assertion came amid conflicting reports from within the US administration. The Pentagon estimates the delay to be between one and two years, while earlier classified intelligence suggested only a few months’ disruption.

Lerner, however, urged caution. “No intelligence service in the world was capable in the hours after these strikes of making a perfect, full evaluation of what happened,” he said, adding that current assessments still need “fine-tuning.”

A key concern remains the fate of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. Lerner pointed out that around 450 kilograms (990 pounds) of highly enriched uranium likely remain under Tehran’s control, with only a small portion possibly destroyed in the attacks.

He also warned of the possibility that Iran could now attempt to advance its nuclear programme in secret. The Islamic Republic has suspended cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog since the strikes and continues to deny that it is pursuing nuclear weapons.