Iran Acknowledges Significant Damage to Nuclear Sites Following US Strikes
In a rare admission, Iran has confirmed that its nuclear facilities suffered substantial damage from recent US airstrikes. The announcement comes amid a tenuous ceasefire brokered between Israel and Iran, which has now held for nearly two weeks.
Details on the Damage and US Claims
Speaking to international media, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson acknowledged, "Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure." However, the official stopped short of revealing the extent or specifics of the harm incurred.
The strikes were launched on Sunday by US B-2 stealth bombers equipped with bunker-buster bombs, marking one of the most aggressive American assaults on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in recent years.
US President Donald Trump had earlier asserted that the operation had effectively obliterated Iran’s nuclear program, a statement that drew both support and skepticism.
Conflicting Reports on the Aftermath
Adding complexity, a leaked preliminary assessment from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency offers a more measured perspective. While acknowledging the damage, it concludes that Iran’s core nuclear facilities remain largely intact, with progress only delayed by a few months.
The White House confirmed the leak's authenticity, while press officials defended the mission's success, stating that precision bombing with fourteen 30,000-pound bombs ensured near-total destruction of targeted sites.
Despite these claims, President Trump publicly cast doubt on the leaked intelligence, suggesting that experts involved "really don’t know" the full impact.
Iran's Stance and Ongoing Ceasefire
Meanwhile, Iranian leadership continues to uphold the ceasefire, with President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasizing that Iran will maintain the truce unless provoked by Israel. He reaffirmed that Iran has no intention to breach the agreement first.
At a critical NATO summit, President Trump reiterated his firm position that Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons, declaring, "They’re not going to have a bomb, and they’re not going to enrich."
What Lies Ahead?
- The durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain, hinging largely on adherence by both Iran and Israel.
- The international community watches closely as further evaluations of the strike’s impact emerge.
- Diplomatic and military tensions around Iran's nuclear ambitions continue to shape regional and global security dynamics.
The recent airstrikes and their aftermath underscore the fragile and complex nature of Middle East geopolitics, where precision military action and delicate diplomacy continuously intersect.
