Trump Asserts Israel Surveyed Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Site Post-Strikes
In the wake of recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Israel may have dispatched agents to assess the damage. Speaking at a NATO summit in The Hague, Trump described the site’s condition as "total obliteration," underscoring the severity of the strikes inflicted by American forces.
Strong Words on the Impact of the Airstrikes
Trump emphasized the rapid and decisive nature of the operation, suggesting that Iranian officials had no opportunity to salvage critical components. "Israel is conducting a report on the aftermath, and I was told it was total obliteration," he remarked. "I believe it was total obliteration, and they didn’t have a chance to get anything out because we acted fast." Despite these assertions, Israeli authorities publicly stated they were unaware of any inspection or Israeli operation at the Fordo facility following the strikes.
Conflicting Assessments on the Damage
Earlier reports had cast doubt on the long-term effectiveness of the airstrikes. A leaked Pentagon intelligence document suggested that core elements of Iran’s nuclear program remained largely intact, estimating that the setbacks would delay Tehran’s activities by mere months rather than years. Furthermore, it indicated much of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile may have been relocated prior to the bombings.
The White House, however, challenged the leaked report’s conclusions, criticizing the leak and maintaining confidence that the strikes had significantly disrupted Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Threats of Further Military Action
When pressed on whether the U.S. would undertake additional strikes should Iran attempt to rebuild its uranium enrichment facilities, Trump responded unequivocally: "Sure. But I’m not going to have to worry about that. It’s gone for years." He insisted that the disruption to Iran's nuclear program amounted to a delay spanning decades, expressing doubt Tehran would resume enrichment activities soon.
Historical Comparisons and Diplomatic Outlook
In a striking analogy, Trump compared the recent strikes to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, stating: "That hit ended the war. I don’t want to use Hiroshima or Nagasaki as examples, but that was essentially the same thing that ended that war. This ended that war. If we didn’t take that out, they would be fighting right now."
Despite his tough rhetoric, Trump suggested there remains a possibility for future engagement with Iran, noting, "I think we’ll end up having somewhat of a relationship with Iran."
Summary: Trump insists U.S. airstrikes inflicted "total obliteration" to Iran’s Fordo nuclear site, claims Israeli agents inspected the damage, while official sources dispute these inspections. Conflicting reports question the strikes' long-term effectiveness, but Trump warns of further military action and draws poignant historical parallels.
