According to intercepted communications between senior Iranian officials—obtained by the United States and reported by The Washington Post—last weekend’s U.S. air and naval strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities were less damaging and extensive than expected. This has raised concerns within the U.S. government that Iran’s nuclear program could soon resume.

The private communications included Iranian officials speculating on why the strikes, ordered by President Donald J. Trump, were not as destructive as anticipated. The existence of these intercepted conversations has not been disputed by the White House.