A CT image reconstruction system is provided that provides a solution to a few-view problem by generating a 3D image from measurements and a forward projection matrix for a CT scan of an object that tends to minimize streaks and other artifacts. The system initially receives measurements and a forward projection matrix for the CT scan. The system during an initial stage generates an initial 3D image based on various constraints so that (1) the reconstruction of the initial 3D image can be perform quickly and (2) the difference between the measurements and the forward projection of the initial 3D image has significantly lower contrast and high frequency content as compared the measurements themselves. The system then during a final stage applies an iterative algorithm to reconstruct the 3D image with the 3D image initialized to the initial 3D image at the beginning of the iterative algorithm.