logo
Trump's strike on Iran's nuclear sites were a flop - report says only 1 out of the 3 was seriously damaged

Trump's strike on Iran's nuclear sites were a flop - report says only 1 out of the 3 was seriously damaged

Time of India6 days ago
When American fighter planes struck Iranian skies last month, the operation, code-named
Operation Midnight Hammer
, was intended to deliver a strong message, and US president Donald Trump announced victory hours after the raid, but the recent US assessment of the destruction reveals contrasting details, as per a report.
Intelligence Report Reveals Only One Facility Was Severely Damaged After US Strike on Iran
The new assessment found that only one of the three facilities targeted to disrupt Iran's nuclear enrichment was mostly destroyed, but the other two were only partially damaged and could be restarted in a matter of months if Iran chooses to do so, according to a report by NBC News.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Select a Course Category
CXO
Project Management
Data Science
healthcare
Artificial Intelligence
Healthcare
Product Management
Operations Management
Finance
Digital Marketing
MCA
Technology
Cybersecurity
Management
PGDM
Data Science
Leadership
Design Thinking
Public Policy
Others
MBA
Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain:
Digital Strategy Development Expertise
Emerging Technologies & Digital Trends
Data-driven Decision Making
Leadership in the Digital Age
Digital Strategy Development Expertise
Emerging Technologies & Digital Trends
Data-driven Decision Making
Leadership in the Digital Age
Duration:
40 Weeks
Indian School of Business
ISB Chief Digital Officer
Starts on
Jun 30, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Digital Strategy Development Expertise
Emerging Technologies & Digital Trends
Data-driven Decision Making
Leadership in the Digital Age
Duration:
40 Weeks
Indian School of Business
ISB Chief Digital Officer
Starts on
Jun 30, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Customer-Centricity & Brand Strategy
Product Marketing, Distribution, & Analytics
Digital Strategies & Innovation Skills
Leadership Insights & AI Integration Expertise
Duration:
10 Months
IIM Kozhikode
IIMK Chief Marketing and Growth Officer
Starts on
Apr 7, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Technology Strategy & Innovation
Emerging Technologies & Digital Transformation
Leadership in Technology Management
Cybersecurity & Risk Management
Duration:
24 Weeks
Indian School of Business
ISB Chief Technology Officer
Starts on
Jun 28, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Operations Strategy for Business Excellence
Organizational Transformation
Corporate Communication & Crisis Management
Capstone Project Presentation
Duration:
11 Months
IIM Lucknow
Chief Operations Officer Programme
Starts on
Jun 30, 2024
Get Details
Early Findings Undermine Public Claims of Success
Five current and former US officials who are familiar with the assessment have pointed out that it's too early to know the exact impact of the strikes, but what they've seen so far contradicts what the White House and Pentagon have said publicly, as per the NBC News report.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
No annual fees for life
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
The assessment of the destruction caused by the military operation is just a snapshot of the damage US strikes caused amid an intelligence-gathering process that administration officials have said is expected to continue for months, as reported by the NBC News report. This initiative is part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to determine the status of Iran's nuclear program since the facilities were struck, and it was briefed to some US lawmakers, Defense Department officials, and allied countries a few days ago, according to the report.
ALSO READ:
QuantumScape stock soars 16% after game-changing solid-state battery breakthrough
Live Events
Intelligence Still Unfolding For Strike Impact
However, officials told NBC News that the assessments of the impact of the US attack on Iran's nuclear program are expected to change over time, and as the process progresses, the findings might indicate more damage than previous assessments revealed, as per the report.
Trump Administration Could Weighs Possibility of Follow-Up Strikes
In case the early findings about the damage caused to Iran's nuclear program remain the same even after additional intelligence comes in, the United States could find itself back in a conflict there, as reported by NBC News.
According to the report, officials have revealed that there have been ongoing discussions within the Trump administration and Israeli government about if more strikes on the two less-damaged facilities might be needed. This could happen if Iran does restart negotiations with the Trump administration on a nuclear deal or if there are indications that Iran is trying to rebuild at those locations, as reported by NBC News.
ALSO READ:
Is Bitcoin the new gold? Analyst predicts 10x surge within a decade — or even sooner
White House and Pentagon Stand Firm on Total Victory Message
However, even after the latest assessment of the damage, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly has reiterated that, 'As the President has said and experts have verified, Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran's nuclear capabilities,' adding that, 'America and the world are safer, thanks to his decisive action,' as quoted in the NBC News report.
While, even chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has mentioned that, 'The credibility of the Fake News Media is similar to that of the current state of the Iranian nuclear facilities: destroyed, in the dirt, and will take years to recover. President Trump was clear and the American people understand: Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz were completely and totally obliterated. There is no doubt about that,' as quoted in the report.
FAQs
What was Operation Midnight Hammer?
It was a US airstrike operation last month targeting three of Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities, ordered by US president Donald Trump.
Did the US strike achieve its goal?
Not entirely. A new US intelligence assessment found only one of the three sites was seriously damaged.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Apple alerted some users in Iran of iPhone spyware attacks ahead of Israel conflict, claim researchers
Apple alerted some users in Iran of iPhone spyware attacks ahead of Israel conflict, claim researchers

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Apple alerted some users in Iran of iPhone spyware attacks ahead of Israel conflict, claim researchers

Apple reportedly warned some users in Iran that their iPhones are at a risk of being targeted by government spyware. According to a TechCrunch report, Miaan Group , a digital rights organization that focuses on Iran and Iranian cybersecurity researcher Hamid Kashfi, has published a report on the state of cybersecurity of civil society in Iran. The report mentioned three confirmed cases of government spyware attacks against Iranians, two in Iran and one in Europe, that were alerted in April of this year – months ahead of conflict with Israel. The researchers claim to have spoken to several Iranians who received the notifications over the past year. 'Two people in Iran come from a family with a long history of political activism against the Islamic Republic. Many members of their family have been executed, and they have no history of traveling abroad,' said Amir Rashidi, Miaan Group's director of digital rights and security, in an interview with TechCrunch. 'I believe there have been three waves of attacks, and we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.' Rashidi told the publication that Iran is likely the government behind the attacks, adding more investigations may be required to reach a conclusive determination. 'I see no reason for members of civil society to be targeted by anyone other than Iran,' he said. Kashfi, the Sweden-based researcher on the other hand, said he assisted two of the victims with initial forensic checks. Though he could not identify which spyware tool was used. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'Pretty much all victims spooked out and ghosted us as soon as we explained the seriousness of the case to them. I presume partly because of their place of work and sensitivity of the matters related to that,' said Kashfi, adding that one of the victims received notifications in 2024. Apple alerted spyware targeting in over 150 countries Apple, in recent years, has sent out similar alerts to users believed to be targeted with government spyware. This type of software is also known as 'mercenary' or 'commercial' spyware. These notifications have helped researchers document spyware abuse in countries including India, El Salvador, and Thailand. According to Apple's support page on 'threat notifications,' last updated in April, the company has alerted users in more than 150 countries since 2021. Apple does not name the countries or specify how many people have received the alerts. Big Question Answered: Why Google is Merging Android and ChromeOS AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

White House unveils artificial intelligence policy plan
White House unveils artificial intelligence policy plan

Time of India

time41 minutes ago

  • Time of India

White House unveils artificial intelligence policy plan

Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills The White House on Wednesday released an artificial intelligence (AI) policy plan highlighting priorities for the US to achieve "global dominance" in the plan developed by US President Donald Trump's administration, calls for open-source and open-weight AI models to be made freely available by developers for anyone in the world to download and three core themes are accelerating AI innovation , build American AI infrastructure and lead in international AI diplomacy and Krishnan, White House advisor on AI policy, took to X to share the announcement. "There is a lot of exciting actions in here but one I'm very partial to is the focus on open source and open weights and making sure the U.S. leads in this critical area," his post AI plan calls for the Commerce Department to research Chinese AI models for alignment with Chinese Communist Party talking points and previously reported by Reuters, it adds the federal government should not allow AI-related federal funding to be directed toward states with "burdensome" regulations.(With inputs from Reuters)

‘10% is the new zero tariff': Trump seals trade deals with many countries - what do they mean for India?
‘10% is the new zero tariff': Trump seals trade deals with many countries - what do they mean for India?

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

‘10% is the new zero tariff': Trump seals trade deals with many countries - what do they mean for India?

One thing is becoming clear - 10% base tariffs are the 'new zero' with which countries will have to contend in terms of negotiations. (AI image) India-US trade deal: As US President Donald Trump announces trade deals in quick succession ahead of his August 1 deadline for reciprocal tariffs, one thing is becoming clear - 10% base tariffs are the 'new zero' with which countries will have to contend in terms of negotiations. A series of trade deals - with Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan - all appear to be in the broad range of 15-20%, much lesser than the tariffs threatened by Trump on April 2, but still above the baseline 10% tariff that is currently in place. So where does that leave India? India-US Trade Deal: What To Expect? An India-US trade deal is still elusive despite several rounds of talks between officials of the two countries. And even though Trump has said multiple times in the recent past that a deal with India is 'near', the last (and fifth) round of negotiations has proved to be inconclusive. Also Read | 'Always, zero tariffs to…': Donald Trump says US willing to lower tariff rates for major countries - this condition needs to be fulfilled It appears that a trade deal is unlikely to be announced before August 1 since deadlock on agriculture and dairy sectors continues. Reuters reported two government sources as saying that a mini trade deal before Trump's deadline looks unlikely. Meanwhile, according to a PTI report US officials are expected to visit India in the second half of August as part of the ongoing efforts for the first phase of the deal by fall. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo India maintains a strong position against American pressure in the proposed trade deal, specifically concerning lower tariffs on US farm imports like maize and soybean. The United States is asking India to open its agriculture and dairy sectors. The Indian government's key priorities include safeguarding farmers and addressing health considerations related to genetically modified commodities. The dairy industry holds particular significance in India, influenced by cultural and dietary traditions. Indian consumers raise objections to American cattle feeding methods that include animal by-products, as these practices conflict with Indian dietary principles. It is yet uncertain whether the 26% reciprocal tariff announced by Trump for India will come into effect from August 1, or will this deadline be extended. Whenever a trade deal is announced, with or without agriculture and dairy a part of it, Trump's recent actions indicate that India is unlikely to secure a tariff rate below 10%. It is broadly expected to be in the ranges similar to the tariffs announced in America's recent trade deals. Asian Countries Score Deals With Trump Administration Trump seems to finally have brought some clarity to the trade landscape of the world's largest manufacturing region through his recent tariff deals. On Tuesday, Trump finalised an agreement with Japan, with a 15% tariff rate on imports, notably also for the automotive sector, which represents the largest portion of the trade imbalance between both nations. Also Read | 'Aggressive US pressure can force…': GTRI warns India against one-sided trade deal; says don't fall into same trap' as Indonesia A deal with the Philippines saw a 19% tariff, matching Indonesia's rate and sitting just below Vietnam's 20% baseline. This suggests that most Southeast Asian nations are likely to receive comparable tariff rates, according to a Bloomberg report. "We live in a new normal where 10% is the new zero and so 15% and 20% doesn't seem so bad if everyone else got it," Trinh Nguyen, senior economist for emerging Asia at Natixis told Bloomberg. She noted that US firms will still find it economically viable to import goods at these tariff levels rather than look at establishing US as their new manufacturing hub. The China Play US seems to be on its path to further streamline a trade deal with world's second largest economy, and the mid-August deadline for China tariffs is expected to be extended. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he will meet Chinese officials in Stockholm in the coming week for their third discussion round, focusing on extending the tariff deadline and broadening the dialogue. This development indicates improving relations between the two largest global economies, following the US's recent relaxation of semiconductor restrictions and China's resumption of rare earth material exports. "We're getting along with China very well," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "We have a very good relationship." The situation shows signs of becoming more stable after half a year of tariff-related uncertainty, which had previously elevated tariffs to 145% for China and approximately 50% for various smaller Asian export nations. Also Read | Trump tariff war: Deal or no deal - why it won't matter much for India What's The Road Ahead On Global Trade? Despite these recent agreements offering partial respite, significant uncertainties persist. The Trump administration continues to evaluate various sector-specific tariffs on products such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, which are vital for Asian economies including Taiwan and India - neither of which has finalised tariff arrangements with the US. South Korea faces heightened vulnerability to sector-specific tariffs, despite the Japanese agreement offering a potential blueprint for newly elected President Lee Jae Myung, according to the Bloomberg report. Trump's swift negotiations with countries which US has a significant trade deficit with are accompanied by his proposal to implement a uniform rate of 10% to 15% on approximately 150 smaller nations. The increasing clarity on tariff structures will allow organisations with intricate Asian supply networks and US market dependence to strategise operational adjustments to minimise revenue impacts. Similar to the 2018 trade tensions, recent tariff declarations are expected to encourage firms to relocate production away from China. At present, China faces the region's highest average tariff rates, whilst ongoing White House scrutiny of its technological and trade aspirations may prompt businesses to seek more stable alternatives. Shipments from Asia to the US are expected to come down after the implementation of new tariff rates. Although Southeast Asian economies and Japan face lower tariffs than initially threatened by Trump, these rates remain significantly higher compared to pre-Trump administration levels. Also Read | 'Illegal, unilateral sanctions…': China hits out at Donald Trump's tariff threat for Russia's allies; says 'coercion will not…' Barclays Plc analysts, including Brian Tan, noted in their report that "continue the trend of tariff rates gravitating towards the 15-20% range that President Trump recently indicated to be his preferred level for the blanket rate instead of 10% currently." Their analysis suggests a negative impact on Asia's GDP growth projections, the Bloomberg report said. US consumers, who have remained largely unaffected by tariff increases thus far, might experience price impacts in the coming months. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists predict an increase in the US baseline 'reciprocal' tariff rate from 10% to 15%, potentially leading to increased inflation and slower economic growth. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store