What Happened?

Whether U.S. and Israeli strikes since Feb. 28 have affected Iran's nuclear facilities is unclear, according to a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. The CRS, Congress's nonpartisan research arm, found that the outcome of strikes since Feb. 28 on Iran's nuclear facilities remains unclear. ​

The Trump administration launched the Feb. 28 operations citing goals that included preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and destroying its missile industry. The White House reported that the operation struck more than 450 ballistic missile targets and approximately 800 attack drone targets.

A specific problem: Trump's own strategy documents contradict each other, with the 2025 National Security Strategy describing the June 2025 strikes as having "significantly degraded" Iran's nuclear program, while the 2026 National Defense Strategy called the same strikes "obliterated."

Why Does it Matter to Me?

The strikes may not have eliminated Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, and an April Defense Intelligence Agency assessment said Iran still retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack drones that can threaten U.S. and partner forces in the region.

The 2026 Annual Threat Assessment found that Iran "was intending to try to recover from the devastation of its nuclear infrastructure" even before the Feb. 28 operations began.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 became law on Dec. 18, 2025, as Public Law 119-60.

Both Sides, Now

Supporters of the strikes point to the White House's claim that "Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and production capacity has been razed."

Skeptics have reason to question that. Reuters reported that an early U.S. intelligence assessment found the June 2025 strikes had not destroyed core components of Iran's nuclear program and may have set it back only by months. In written testimony to Congress, the Defense Intelligence Agency director said Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack drones capable of threatening U.S. and partner forces, despite degradations, according to the House Armed Services Committee.

Independent verification is also limited: the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global body that monitors nuclear programs, reported it has been unable to access the attacked facilities since military operations began on June 13, 2025. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated on March 2 that the agency had no evidence of "a structured [Iranian] program to manufacture nuclear weapons."

What Happens Next?

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, which has passed the House, comes with a House Armed Services Committee report that directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report by Feb. 1, 2027, on the impact of U.S. military operations on Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.

The Senate must still pass the fiscal year 2027 defense bill before that oversight requirement becomes law. Will Congress get a clear, public accounting of what the strikes actually achieved?

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AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

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