Latest news with #B-2
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Iran bomb damage intel suggests two nuclear sites not ‘obliterated'
Published Jul 18, 2025 • 5 minute read This handout satellite picture provided by Maxar Technologies and taken on June 24, 2025, shows an overview of Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility and nearby tunnels in central Iran. Photo by - / Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Tec The United States has assessed that only one of Iran's three principal nuclear facilities was destroyed in U.S. strikes last month, officials and people familiar with ongoing assessments said, prompting renewed questions about President Donald Trump's claim that Tehran's nuclear program had been 'totally obliterated.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Of the three facilities targeted in a massive nighttime bombing run, the results of the damage at the Fordow site have been the clearest to assess, according to U.S. officials and a congressional aide familiar with briefings provided to lawmakers. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers dropped 12 huge ground-penetrating bombs through ventilation shafts into the underground facility. There are ongoing analyses of how significant the damage was at the other sites, Natanz and Isfahan, but the current indication is they were not dealt a knockout blow, according to a U.S. official familiar with the intelligence assessments. 'We definitely can't say it was obliterated,' the official said of Iran's nuclear program. Like others in this report, the official and the aide spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive and ongoing assessments. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The objective to collapse the deeply buried infrastructure at Fordow 'seems to have succeeded,' the aide said. Adding to the confidence, they said, was an intimate understanding of the facility by U.S. war planners, who developed the 30,000-pound bunker-buster program specifically in response to the Iranian effort to burrow the site into a mountain. Fordow is one of two main sites in Iran where thousands of fast-spinning centrifuges were installed to purify uranium. But there are still significant unknowns, including whether the centrifuges at the deepest levels of Fordow were destroyed or rendered inoperable, or if they were moved before the bombing. If they were not present, 'then they are back in business,' the aide said of Iran. 'That is the key component to enriching the material.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Much less is known about the efficacy of strikes at the other two facilities, the aide said. The bunker-busting bombs were not used at the Isfahan site because the Pentagon had assessed it was 'pretty much impenetrable,' the aide said. Isfahan, the country's largest nuclear research complex, has bunkers that are even more deeply buried – and beneath harder rock – than the terrain at Fordow. Instead, a submarine fired a salvo of Tomahawk cruise missiles to destroy surface targets. Likewise, buildings at Iran's other major site – the nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz – were targeted by Israeli jets in the days before the U.S. strike. B-2 stealth bombers then hit Natanz with two Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, destroying some underground rooms. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There is no reason to doubt the underground facilities at Natanz were destroyed, the aide said, but the subsequent intelligence picture there is also less robust than at Fordow. Bomb damage assessments typically evolve over time as new information is acquired, and the fact that many of Iran's nuclear facilities are deep underground complicates getting a full picture of their status. Some elements of the latest U.S. assessment of the impact of the Iran strikes were reported earlier by NBC News. Whether Iran now pursues a nuclear weapon depends on how Tehran and Washington respond in the coming weeks and months, the congressional aide said. It is hard to imagine Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and others in the regime not seeing the attacks as evidence they need a credible nuclear deterrent. If senior leaders pursue a diplomatic solution after the embarrassment of seeing their defences penetrated so decisively, Iran's government risks political instability; if new rulers emerge, they may be even more hard-line. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There's no reason to believe they will not' seek a nuclear weapon now, said Sima Shine, an Iran expert and former official in Israel's Mossad intelligence service. 'They want the bomb … nuclear deterrence.' But the Iranians 'know the price' they might pay for resumed nuclear activity, she said, referring to potential follow-on U.S. or Israeli strikes. Shine noted that Israeli military and covert actions also killed numerous top Iranian nuclear scientists, eliminated up to half of its ballistic missile launchers and destroyed other sites for constructing centrifuges to enrich uranium. 'What happened to Iran in this war is more than just the destruction of 'X' places,' said Shine, a senior researcher at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Iranians 'believe they're in a long war' with Israel and that the larger issue is 'management of the Israeli threat,' including rebuilding air defences and plugging intelligence holes, said Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. For Washington, he said, the issue should be 'not just the result of the intelligence estimate – whether Iran's nuclear program is finished off or not, but whether it's worth going to the table with the Iranians to negotiate something that actually would make this ceasefire have legs.' The Pentagon has remained sharply critical of media reports citing an initial, secret Defense Intelligence Agency assessment last month that the strikes set Tehran's program back by months but did not eliminate it entirely. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz were completely and totally obliterated. There is no doubt about that,' chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. Iran's program was degraded by 'one to two years,' Parnell told reporters earlier this month. The White House on Thursday continued to assert that the U.S. strikes, known as Operation 'Midnight Hammer,' had eliminated Iran's nuclear program as a threat. 'As the President has said and experts have verified, Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran's nuclear capabilities. America and the world are safer thanks to his decisive action,' White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement. U.S. and Israeli officials, and nuclear experts, agree that the strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure damaged the program considerably. But without more information, including on the fate of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, it is unclear whether and how quickly Iran could resume its march toward a bomb, if its leaders so chose. 'It seems like an unforced error on the administration's part to spike the football and claim victory when it didn't need to,' the aide said. Sunshine Girls Tennis Toronto & GTA MMA Toronto Maple Leafs
Time Business News
2 days ago
- General
- Time Business News
Kristin Goodwin Turns Military Background Into a Career Coaching High-Performance Teams
When Brig Gen Kristin Goodwin spots a B-2 stealth bomber in the news, she doesn't just see an aircraft. She notices the formation, the timing, and the coordination behind it. During the early 2024 strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—the longest B-2 flight since 2001—she could tell right away how much work and preparation had gone into the mission. While most news stories focused on the weapons and flight path, her attention went to those flying the aircraft. Even though the pilots weren't named, Goodwin later learned that one of them was a woman. This detail didn't make the headlines, but it brought back memories of her own time in the military—long before most people expected to see a woman in that seat. Now retired from the Air Force, Goodwin has taken on a different kind of challenge, working with executives, boards, and senior teams instead of pilots and command centers. Through her company, The Delta-v, she draws from over two decades of leadership experience to help organizations perform under pressure, all without losing sight of their people. Leading From a Place Few Women Had Gone Before Goodwin is one of only a few women to have flown the B-2 Spirit, a stealth aircraft known for its long-range precision and classified flight plans. In 2012, she became Vice Commander of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, the B-2's home. Two years later, she took command of the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, becoming the first woman in Air Force history to lead a U.S. bomb wing. Still, her time in the cockpit was just one part of a larger story spanning more than 20 years and multiple mission areas. She has over 3,000 flight hours, including 187 in combat, and has led organizations across space, cyber, nuclear deterrence, and joint operations. In each role, she was responsible for ensuring readiness and supporting her teams under demanding conditions. First Lessons in Leading Without Fear In 1997, long before she held a general's rank, Kristin Goodwin was the 25-year-old commander of an EC-130 aircraft on a mission over Bosnia. Her crew included 15 people—all men, many older than her. During the flight, they encountered multiple emergencies. There was an in-flight engine fire, a medical emergency, a sudden decompression requiring oxygen masks, and an enemy fighter jet that launched to intercept them. Although the mission was a success, what stood out to Goodwin wasn't the outcome, but how everyone showed up for each other when it counted. 'It began with me getting to know my crew and building trust; by knowing them… I mean truly knowing them,' she said. 'I came to know their superpowers and how best to leverage them. They came to trust that I would clearly communicate the mission, empower them and lead them to coherence.' She remembers the team gathering afterward to debrief over coffee and cookies, brewed and baked on the flight home. No one overreacted or lost focus, trusting one another to handle the situation effectively. That early experience changed her view of leadership, showing her that pressure is best met with trust and preparation. Bringing Humanity to the Highest Levels Over the next two decades, Goodwin moved into senior roles across the Air Force and, eventually, the newly formed U.S. Space Force. As Chief of Staff for Space Operations Command, she was responsible for 4,100 personnel operating across 134 sites worldwide. She also led the development of the first field command structure, advised on defense planning, and helped establish systems for intelligence, infrastructure, and operations. At the U.S. Air Force Academy, Goodwin served as Commandant of Cadets, where she designed a 47-month leadership curriculum and launched programs to improve retention, mental health, and cadet connection. Among those programs was SAFE HAVEN, a mobile app offering real-time support, and the 'Safe to Report' policy, which allowed cadets to seek help without fear of backlash. Throughout her career, Kristin Goodwin has led with the belief that people do their best work when they feel valued, supported, and understand their purpose. 'Everything really comes down to relationships,' she said. 'Get to know people, care about them, ask questions, develop rapport. We all need connection.' Coaching Others Through the Fog After retiring from active duty, Goodwin founded The Delta-v, a leadership and strategy firm that helps senior leaders operate effectively through moments of uncertainty and change. As CEO and founder, she works directly with Fortune 500 companies, technology startups, nonprofits, and defense contractors, offering personalized guidance on strategy, operations, AI transformation, and culture. Her background in aerospace, healthcare, cybersecurity, and defense gives her a clear understanding of what it takes to lead in high-pressure industries. Rather than rely on theory, she draws on her operational background to help teams improve clarity, cohesion, and performance. At BAE Systems, she advises on electronic warfare strategy, and at Capitol Defense Consulting, she's helped roll out critical systems for the Department of Defense. Whether she's guiding a company through AI adoption or helping a board reset direction, her approach is grounded in lived experience and built for real-world complexities. Tools, Trust, and the Time to Use Them In addition to coaching, Goodwin designs and leads custom board retreats through The Delta-v. These sessions give senior leaders space to pause, reflect, and work through challenges that shape the future of their organizations. Retreats are built around each board's priorities—whether that's governance, alignment, or collaboration at the executive level. Her facilitation style is hands-on and people-centered, helping teams solve problems, build trust, and move forward together. 'Extraordinary things happen when talented people unite behind a common mission,' she said. Goodwin also shares her insights through speaking engagements, delivering talks on topics like 'The Soul of Leadership,' 'Human-Centric AI Transformation,' and 'Strategic Navigation Through Chaos.' Her presentations combine practical tools with reflection, encouraging leaders to think more deeply about their impact on others. Where Leadership and Life Move in Tandem Kristin Goodwin may not spend her days flying anymore, but she still starts them early. Most mornings, she's up at 5:00 a.m. for a workout before jumping into coaching calls, planning sessions, and team workshops. She now serves as COO of TechWise, a defense consulting firm that works in training, systems integration, and new technology. Previously, she worked as interim COO of Caribou Thunder, where she helped drive a 67% revenue increase by improving its structure and culture. Outside of work, Goodwin stays active in her community. She serves on several boards, mentors others through professional women's organizations, and is deeply involved with Home Front Military Network, a nonprofit that helps active-duty service members and veterans access financial and mental health resources during times of need. Most of her personal time is spent outdoors, whether it's long-distance biking, running, or hiking. The rest is devoted to her greatest accomplishment: being a mom to her two school-aged daughters. Her schedule may be full, but 'work-life balance' isn't part of her vocabulary. 'I prefer the term 'Life Harmony,'' she said. 'As a mom and professional, it is not so much 'balance' as learning to live in the moment, clarifying priorities, and never taking myself too seriously.' Impact That Can't be Quantified Titles and roles offer a glimpse into Goodwin's career, but they don't tell the whole story, leaving out much of what makes it meaningful. Her impact shows up most in the people she's supported—whether in the military or in executive circles. One reminder sits framed on her desk: a letter from Staff Sgt. Desmond Awadzi, a young airman from Ghana who served under her command at Barksdale. She saw his potential early and nominated him for Officer Training School, where he was later accepted. In his letter, he thanked her for believing in him, for noticing where he came from, and for helping him see what was possible. Goodwin keeps that letter not as a symbol of achievement, but as a personal reminder of the lasting influence leaders can have when they invest in others. 'Helping others write their next great chapter, opening doors that may otherwise remain closed, that is the type of leadership I work to always embody.' TIME BUSINESS NEWS
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan's Strategic Miscalculation: Trump, Tehran, And The Cost Of Misplaced Trust
Last Updated: Asim Munir, who had spent months manipulating Pakistan's political structure and suppressing dissent, was himself played by Donald Trump. In a seismic show of force, the United States on June 22 executed a devastating strike against Iran's core nuclear infrastructure. The Fordow enrichment complex, nestled deep within a mountain, was targeted by a fleet of B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers in what became the largest and second-longest B-2 mission in US military history. Almost simultaneously, 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines slammed into Iran's key sites at Isfahan and Natanz. President Donald Trump, never one to understate his actions, proclaimed later that day: '…The strikes have been spectacularly successful. Iran's key nuclear facilities have been completely and totally obliterated…" These weren't hollow words. The mission employed eight GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators—each capable of delivering over 6,000 pounds of high explosives. Even if the bombs didn't reach the deepest subterranean vaults of Fordow, the sheer concussive force of nearly 48 tons of explosives in a confined space left little doubt: Iran's sensitive nuclear equipment is no longer operational. The devastation at Natanz and Isfahan—far more vulnerable sites—would be even more complete. The US had long harboured ambitions of dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure. But what had been missing for years was the political will. That changed in June 2025. With this one sweeping strike, 'Project Amad", Iran's covert nuclear program first initiated in the 2000s, now lies in ruins. The regime in Tehran, which drew its power and deterrence from nuclear ambiguity, has been jolted into a crisis. A Perfectly Sequenced Campaign with Israel Starting mid-June, Israel escalated to strategic targets inside Iran – hitting power grids, oil depots, tunnels, air bases, and even targeting nuclear scientists and senior commanders. The precision and lethality of these operations sent shockwaves through Iran's military and political hierarchy. Facing unprecedented disruption, the Iranian leadership retreated into digital silence, severely limiting communication and mobility. This inherently caused a paralysis in knowing, decision-making and acting against what was coming. Only once Israel had softened Iran's defences did the United States strike, leveraging its stealth capabilities and missile supremacy to hit targets only it could neutralise. The result was a textbook execution of a joint strategic playbook, demonstrating new levels of coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv. Grey Zone Warfare: A Six-Dimensional Offensive This campaign was a prime example of modern Grey Zone Warfare, waged across six interlinked domains: Diplomatic, Information (including intelligence), Military, Economic, Political, and Technological (DIME-PT). Diplomatically, it reshaped the power equations in West Asia. Militarily, it showcased stealth dominance and kinetic precision. Economically, it targeted critical infrastructure that funds Iranian regional influence. Politically, it cornered the Iranian regime at home and abroad. Technologically, it employed unmatched capabilities in cyber, stealth, and satellite warfare. Informationally, it seized the narrative, leaving no ambiguity about American resolve. Neither Russia nor China – Iran's supposed backers – made any significant move to deter or respond. India, historically friendly with both Iran and Israel, maintained strategic silence – an indication of tacit approval. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Iran's neighbour and erstwhile ally, found itself scrambling for relevance, and in the process, revealed the deep flaws in its strategic thinking. Pakistan: The Cost of Being Played In the lead-up to the US strike, Pakistan was caught playing a dangerous double game. Just a day before the bombing, Pakistan's government reportedly proposed nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize – a surreal move given Trump's well-known hawkish stance on both Iran and Pakistan. Within 24 hours, the same government was publicly condemning Trump for bombing Iran's nuclear sites. This flip-flop was more than a diplomatic embarrassment – it exposed the strategic shallowness of Pakistan's power elite. The central figure in this misadventure was General Asim Munir, who had recently self-promoted to Field Marshal after India's Operation Sindoor, which shattered Pakistan's nuclear deterrence bluff. Seeking international validation, Munir flew to Washington and was hosted by Trump at a high-profile White House luncheon. Overwhelmed by praise, and blind to precedent, Munir appeared to miss a crucial detail: Trump had not forgotten his own words from 2018, when he declared: 'The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan. No more!" Yet here was Munir – naively believing flattery and symbolism would reset the clock. While he publicly signalled support for Iran, he quietly offered strategic cooperation to the United States, hoping to position Pakistan as a regional mediator. Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister, parroted this illusion on social media, claiming to have spoken to the Iranian President 'to express Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people of Iran." A Masterclass in Strategic Deception – But Not by Pakistan What played out was a masterclass in American strategic deception – not by Pakistan, but against Pakistan. Munir, who had spent months manipulating Pakistan's political structure and suppressing dissent, was himself played by Trump. In offering backdoor deals, mineral access, and intelligence cooperation, Pakistan hoped to regain Washington's trust. But Trump – and the US national security establishment – saw through it. Pakistan was using the same tactics it once employed with China, offering mineral rights and geostrategic leverage as bait. China learned its $64 billion CPEC lesson slowly. The United States learned it overnight. What remains is a country that has betrayed old allies like Iran, undermined its credibility, and overestimated its importance in a new regional order. A Self-Inflicted Wound The US strike on Iran was more than a military triumph – it was a strategic earthquake. For Pakistan, it exposed not just a diplomatic failure, but a crisis of judgement. Caught between old loyalties and new ambitions, Pakistan bet on the wrong strategy – and perhaps the wrong president. In the brutal clarity of international affairs, there are no rewards for sycophancy, only consequences. The United States acted decisively. Israel coordinated expertly. Iran miscalculated fatally. And Pakistan – well, Pakistan simply played itself. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Brigadier Brijesh Pandey Brig Brijesh Pandey is a veteran with distinguished career of 35+ years in Indian Army, specialising in Artillery and pioneering Information Warfare. Proven leader with expertise in strategic planning, More tags : Asim Munir donald trump Israel-Iran tensions pakistan view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 23, 2025, 13:56 IST News opinion Opinion | Pakistan's Strategic Miscalculation: Trump, Tehran, And The Cost Of Misplaced Trust Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Did Trump pull back from a wider war with Iran? Inside the scrapped plan to strike more nuclear sites beyond Operation Midnight Hammer
In June, the US launched a precision airstrike on Iran's key nuclear sites under Operation Midnight Hammer. It was described by President Donald Trump as a decisive blow to Iran's nuclear programme. But intelligence gathered since tells a more complicated story. Only one of the three main targets, the Fordow facility, suffered heavy damage. According to a US intelligence assessment reported by NBC News, strikes on Natanz and Isfahan were far less effective. Both sites could potentially restart uranium enrichment within months. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category MBA Product Management Digital Marketing Operations Management Project Management Data Analytics Others Degree Management Healthcare Public Policy healthcare Data Science PGDM Technology CXO others Finance Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking MCA Data Science Cybersecurity Leadership Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details Despite this, Trump has stood by his original statement. 'Iran's key enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,' he said, shortly after the strike. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell backed him, stating, 'There is no doubt about that.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dolly Parton, 79, Takes off Her Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words The Noodle Box Undo A broader strike that never happened The US Central Command had prepared a much larger, longer campaign. The plan included targeting three additional sites and launching a wave of attacks over several weeks. It also aimed to dismantle Iran's air defences and missile capabilities. But Trump turned it down. Live Events 'We were willing to go all the way in our options, but the president did not want to,' a source familiar with the planning told NBC News. The proposed campaign, if carried out, would likely have led to higher casualties and drawn the US deeper into conflict with Iran. Trump, according to officials, preferred to avoid escalation and stick with a one-night strike instead. ET has not been able to independently verify these claims and the report is based on an earlier NBC News report. Operation Midnight Hammar On 22 June, B-2 stealth bombers struck Fordow using the GBU-57 — a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb, deployed in combat for the first time. Tomahawk missiles were used against Isfahan, and Natanz was also targeted with bunker busters. Fordow, carved deep into a mountain, was the main success. Intelligence suggests Iran's ability to enrich uranium there has been set back by as much as two years. But the same can't be said for Natanz and Isfahan. The latter's structures were too deep to reach, and only surface targets were hit. At Natanz, some infrastructure survived the blasts. Both sites may be able to resume operations within a few months. White House responds Despite internal assessments showing limited damage to two of the three sites, official statements have held a different line. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told NBC News: 'As the President has said and experts have verified, Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran's nuclear capabilities.' Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell added: '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.' Trump himself doubled down on social media, writing, 'Monumental damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran... Bullseye!!!' Intelligence still evolving The initial assessment by the Defence Intelligence Agency had suggested Iran's nuclear programme was only set back by a few months. But more recent intelligence now points to deeper damage at Fordow. CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed lawmakers in late June, stating the Natanz metal conversion facility was destroyed and would take 'years to rebuild.' Ratcliffe also said enriched uranium at Isfahan and Fordow was buried deep enough that Iran would struggle to access it. The US has seen no signs yet that Iran is attempting to recover buried materials. A senior Israeli official agreed that some uranium remains buried but called it 'effectively unreachable.' Israel has also warned it is monitoring and will strike again if it believes Iran is trying to dig it out. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is civilian in nature. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi acknowledged the damage at Fordow but denied that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. In an interview with NBC News, given just before the strikes, he repeated Iran's position that it is not building a bomb. Tehran's stance remains unchanged. But according to officials, Iran had enough fissile material for up to ten bombs before the June strikes. That estimate came from US officials and UN inspectors. The limited damage at Natanz and Isfahan has prompted discussions in Washington and Tel Aviv about possible follow-up strikes. Some officials argue that if Iran resumes work or refuses to negotiate, further military action could be needed. Asked in late June whether he would consider another strike if Iran restarts enrichment, Trump responded: 'Sure. Without question. Absolutely.' Iran's air defence systems were heavily targeted during Operation Midnight Hammer, and US officials believe it would be nearly impossible for Iran to defend against another strike in the near future. 'It was made clear that Iran no longer has any more [air defences], so the idea that they can easily rebuild anything is ludicrous,' a White House official told NBC. This flashpoint didn't appear out of nowhere. In 2018, Trump pulled the US out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a nuclear deal agreed under Barack Obama. That agreement had imposed strict curbs on Iran's enrichment in exchange for lifting sanctions. After leaving the deal, Trump reimposed economic pressure. Iran, in turn, ramped up its enrichment activity. Before the June strike, intelligence showed Iran had breached limits and built up material for several bombs. Attempts to restart diplomacy between Washington and Tehran failed. Meanwhile, Israel had already begun taking matters into its own hands with earlier targeted strikes. The all-in plan that was shelved General Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, had drawn up what officials referred to as an 'all-in' plan. It involved six targets, multiple waves of strikes and attacks on Iran's missile systems. 'It would be a protracted air campaign,' a person familiar with the plan told NBC News. Trump was briefed on it. But he rejected it. The risk of escalation, retaliation, and a drawn-out conflict went against the instincts that had defined much of his foreign policy. Some within his administration supported the more aggressive approach. Others believed the limited operation would be enough to alter Tehran's calculus. While Fordow lies crippled, Natanz and Isfahan may not stay idle for long. Officials warn that if Iran begins repair work or resumes enrichment, the US and Israel might act again. The message from Washington is clear: the strikes changed the equation. But the outcome is not final. As intelligence assessments continue and diplomatic channels remain stalled, the situation remains fragile. The US believes it has set Iran back. Whether that's enough, though, may soon be tested.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'We were willing but president ... ': Did Donald Trump hold back strikes on Iran's nuclear sites? Here's what report says
Despite President Donald Trump's bold claims that US airstrikes had 'completely obliterated' Iran's nuclear program, a new report reveals that the US president held back from authorizing a far more extensive military campaign that could have severely crippled Iran's capabilities. The report by NBC News citing a US assessment of the impact of Operation Midnight Hammer further noted that only one of the three Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed, leading to a significant setback. Trump has previously dismissed any suggestions that the recent US airstrikes on Iran fell short of their objectives, labeling such claims as "fake news". A scaled-back operation? US Central Command had developed a broader strike strategy that included hitting three additional nuclear-related sites over the course of several weeks. The plan, according to officials familiar with its details, would have involved repeated bombardments, attacks on air defense systems, and likely a high number of Iranian and possibly US casualties. But Trump, guided by his foreign policy instinct to avoid drawn-out conflicts, refused to authorize the broader operation. 'We were willing to go all the way in our options, but the president did not want to,' NBC News reported quoting a source having knowledge of the plan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Instead, the administration launched a single-night strike involving B-2 stealth bombers and the first-ever combat use of GBU-57 'bunker buster' bombs, aimed especially at the fortified Fordow facility. Limited impact on Natanz, Isfahan While Fordo was severely damaged, potentially setting back Iran's enrichment efforts there by up to two years, the other two sites did not fare as poorly. Intelligence suggests that Iran could resume enrichment at Natanz and Isfahan within months, as the damage inflicted was mostly limited to surface structures. Officials acknowledged that US planners were aware in advance that deeply buried tunnels at those sites were beyond the reach of even the GBU-57 bombs. At Isfahan, Tomahawk missiles were used against surface targets, while Natanz was hit with bunker busters but still retained some functional infrastructure. The latest assessment offers an initial view of the damage caused by the US strikes, as part of an intelligence-gathering effort that officials say will continue for several months. Evaluations of Iran's nuclear program are expected to evolve over time, and according to officials cited by NBC News, early findings now indicate the strikes may have caused more extensive damage than initially believed.
