11 hours ago
Does Iran still have the means to retaliate against the US and Israel?
With Iran pushed into a corner on the military front, a shroud of uncertainty surrounds the Islamic Republic's intentions and capacity to respond to American airstrikes on Monday, June 23. Also unclear was the future of its nuclear program, which is likely intended for military purposes, after key sites suffered heavy blows overnight from Saturday to Sunday.
"Monumental damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term," United States President Donald Trump declared on social media on Sunday, referring to the previous day's American airstrikes on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites. "The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" Trump added. Showing more caution, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, said the sites had suffered "extremely severe damage and destruction."
Experts, however, said it was impossible at this point to determine the precise extent of the damage the bombings inflicted underground. Nor was it yet possible to know what had become of the stockpile of enriched uranium that Tehran has accumulated: 408 kilograms enriched to 60% in isotope 235, which if further enriched to 90% would be sufficient to produce several nuclear weapons. Iran claims to have placed its stockpile in a secure location.
