WASHINGTON, July 2 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Wednesday that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Some nuclear proliferation experts told ABC News they believe the strikes could lead to a "fork-in-the-road" moment that results in Tehran taking a more dangerous and secretive path to obtaining nuclear arms if it chooses to do so.

The new assessment contrasted with U.N. agency view that Iran could resume enriching uranium in a “matter of months.”