Trump Repeats Claim Of US "Obliterated" Iran Nuclear Sites
US President Donald Trump has once again asserted his claims on Washington "obliterating" Iranian nuclear sites during its targeted strikes on June 22, riding on Israel's assessment made by the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) on those sites.
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday (local time), Trump noted the assessment made by IAEC on the Fordow nuclear site in Iran, where Israel's primary nuclear regulatory authority stated that the US' strike had "destroyed the site's critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable."
"Israel just stated that the Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED! Thank you to our great B-2 pilots, and all others involved!" Trump wrote.
Trump's announcement came in the wake of an assessment made by the IAEC, where they detailed the impact of the US strike on Fordow and other nuclear sites, noting that the strikes in Fordow had destroyed its "critical infrastructure" and made the enrichment facility "inoperable".
In its statement, as announced by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, IAEC also noted that the US strikes combined with Israel's attacks on the facilities had caused a major setback to Tehran's nuclear weapons development programme by "many years".
"The devastating US strike on Fordow destroyed the site's critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran's military nuclear program, have set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material," IAEC read.
Trump's repeated remarks on the US destroying Iran's nuclear sites and causing a major setback to its nuclear development programme have gained much pace following a CNN finding that suggested that the strikes did not destroy nuclear sites in Iran as claimed by the US President or his administration.
The findings, first reported by CNN, citing seven individuals briefed on the assessments, noted that the early evaluation from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) suggested that the attacks only caused a temporary disruption, possibly setting Tehran's nuclear program back by a few months.
CNN further reported that the findings based on a battle damage assessment by US Central Command contradict public claims made by US President Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who asserted that the US "completely obliterated" Iran's nuclear capabilities.
As per CNN, citing intelligence sources, the centrifuges in Iran's nuclear facilities remain mostly functional, and enriched uranium stockpiles were likely moved before the strikes.
The conflict between Iran and Israel began on June 13 when Israel launched a large-scale airstrike targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities under "Operation Rising Lion". Iran responded by launching "Operation True Promise 3", a campaign involving missile and drone attacks against Israel's infrastructure.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
38 minutes ago
- United News of India
3 Palestinians killed during Israeli settler attack in West Bank: Report
Ramallah/Jerusalem, June 26 (UNI) Three Palestinians were killed and seven others injured yesterday by live bullets during an Israeli settler attack on the town of Kafr Malik east of Ramallah, central West Bank, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported. Citing local sources, WAFA said that dozens of settlers attacked the town of Kafr Malik and burnt vehicles and houses of citizens in the town, while residents of the town and nearby villages attempted to confront them. The Israeli forces secured protection for the settlers, fired live bullets at Palestinians, and prevented ambulances from reaching and transporting the injured, WAFA added. Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing a local resident, reported that it was the Israeli army that killed the three Palestinians, although the settlers also fired handguns. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Wednesday that dozens of Israeli civilians set fire to property in al-Mughayyir, a village near Kafr Malik. "Upon receiving the report, IDF and Israeli Police forces were dispatched to the scene and operated to disperse the confrontation," it said. "Several terrorists fired from within al-Mughayyir and hurled rocks at the forces, who opened fire toward the source of fire and the rock-hurlers. Hits were identified, and it was later reported that there were several individuals injured and fatalities," it added. The IDF noted that five Israeli suspects were arrested during the incident and transferred to the police. UNI XINHUA ARN
Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Where is Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
With the nation watching, the host on Iranian state television asked the question that so many people in Iran — from the political elite to people on the street — were wondering. 'People are very worried about the supreme leader,' the host said to an official from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office on Tuesday. 'Can you tell us how he is?' He noted that viewers had sent a flood of messages asking the same thing. But the official, Mehdi Fazaeli, the head of Khamenei's archives office, did not give a straight answer. Instead, Fazaeli said that he, too, had received numerous enquiries from officials and others worried about the ayatollah after the furious bombing campaign by Israel and the US. 'We should all be praying,' Fazaeli said. 'The people who are responsible for protecting the supreme leader are doing their job well,' he added. 'God willing, our people can celebrate victory next to their leader, God willing.' Khamenei, who has the final say on key decisions in Iran, has not been seen publicly or heard from in nearly a week, despite the extraordinary crisis that his country has faced. In the past few days alone, the US bombed three of Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at a US base in Qatar, and Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire that went into effect Tuesday morning. Through it all, Khamenei — who officials say has been sheltering in a bunker and refraining from electronic communication to prevent assassination attempts against him — has remained absent, issuing no public statements or recorded messages. His absence has surprised and unnerved everyone from political insiders to the general public. Mohsen Khalifeh, the editor-in-chief of Khaneman, a daily newspaper focused on real-estate development, said in an interview that Khamenei's 'days-long absence has made all of us who love him very worried.' Acknowledging a possibility that two weeks ago would have seemed unthinkable, Khalifeh added that if Khamenei were dead, his funeral procession would be 'the most glorious and historic.' As the supreme leader, Khamenei has the last word on all major state matters. As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he would be expected to approve any military decision as significant as the attack on the US base or the ceasefire deal with Israel. The ceasefire agreement, requested by President Donald Trump and mediated by the emir of Qatar, appears to have been brokered swiftly. Yet senior military commanders and government officials have been evasive about whether they have met or spoken with Khamenei in recent days. His public silence has led to a flurry of speculation and doubt: how involved has Khamenei been in the most recent decisions, given the many potential difficulties or delays in reaching him? Is he still supervising the country on a daily basis? Is he injured, sick or even alive? Hamzeh Safavi — a political analyst and the son of Gen. Yahya Safavi, a Revolutionary Guard commander and top military adviser to Khamenei — said that Iran's security officials believed Israel might still try to assassinate Khamenei, even during a ceasefire. So, he said, they are enforcing extreme security protocols, including limited contact with the outside world. 'There is a pragmatic view taking hold for managing the country out of this crisis,' he said, by empowering other leaders, like President Masoud Pezeshkian. Still, Safavi said he believed that Khamenei was weighing in on key decisions remotely. Even so, some of Khamenei's supporters are posting on social media and telling one another in text messages that they cannot feel Iran has been victorious in the war against Israel until they see or hear from the supreme leader. Four senior Iranian officials, familiar with current policy discussions in the government, said that in Khamenei's absence, politicians and military commanders were forming alliances and vying for power. These factions have different visions of how Iran should move forward with its nuclear programme, its negotiations with the US and the standoff with Israel. The faction that appears to have the upper hand at the moment is pushing for moderation and diplomacy, the four officials said. It includes Pezeshkian, who has publicly signalled his willingness to return to the bargaining table with the US even after Trump bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. Pezeshkian's allies include the head of the judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, who is close to the supreme leader, and the new commander of the armed forces, Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi. The Iranian government is trying to ride the wave of nationalist fervour that has emerged in reaction to Israel's withering airstrikes, which officials say have killed more than 600 people in Iran. Tehran's National Symphony performed at an outdoor concert in Azadi Square — a symbolic landmark named 'freedom' — in Tehran on Tuesday. A light show followed with pictures of emergency responders projected on the arch-like tower at the centre of the square. Iran's plan for its damaged nuclear facilities remains a looming question. Both the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Mohammad Eslami, have said in interviews with local news media that Iran will rebuild and revive its nuclear programme and continue enriching uranium. Sanam Vakil, the director for the Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, a research group, said that Khamenei's absence was notable and a sign that Iran's leaders were being 'extremely careful and security-minded.' 'If we don't see Khamenei by Ashura,' an important religious procession for Shiite Muslims observed in Iran in early July this year, Vakil said, 'that is a bad sign. He has to show his face.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
44 minutes ago
- First Post
India backs BRICS statement raising ‘grave concern' over strikes on Iran
India has joined BRICS in 'expressing grave concern' over recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, calling them a violation of international law. The move comes ahead of the BRICS summit in Brazil next month. read more India has joined BRICS in 'expressing grave concern' over the recent military strikes on Iran by the US and Israel, calling them a violation of international law and the UN Charter. The strikes began on June 13, and tensions in the region have since escalated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 5–6. In a joint statement, BRICS said it was 'deeply concerned' about the attacks, warning they threaten peace, security, and the global economy. The group urged all parties to break the cycle of violence and resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The statement also expressed serious concern over strikes targeting peaceful nuclear facilities in Iran—such as those in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—stating that such actions violate international law and IAEA resolutions. It stressed the importance of upholding nuclear safety and protecting civilian lives and infrastructure during armed conflict. BRICS reaffirmed its commitment to international peace and called for the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East. It urged the international community to support peace efforts and uphold global legal frameworks to ensure long-term stability. This BRICS stance comes just 10 days after India chose not to support a similar statement issued by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemning the strikes. Following the BRICS statement, the Iranian embassy in Delhi thanked the people of India for their support. It praised the 'freedom-loving' citizens, political leaders, NGOs, academics, spiritual leaders, journalists, and activists who stood with Iran during the attacks. The embassy said public statements, messages of solidarity, and participation in peace-oriented gatherings were a great source of encouragement for the Iranian people during these difficult times.
