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Doubts Surface Over Iran Nuclear Program Damage After Airstrikes
Washington D.C. – In a surprising turn of events, senior U.S. officials are expressing uncertainty regarding the true extent of damage inflicted on iranian nuclear facilities following recent joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.This comes after initial declarations of “obliteration” were widely circulated.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who initially claimed Iran’s nuclear ambitions were “obliterated,” seemed to walk back those statements, describing the damage as “moderate to severe.” This shift follows leaked Pentagon assessments suggesting the Iranian nuclear program may only be delayed by a few months.
Contradictory Statements and Conflicting Intelligence
President Donald Trump acknowledged “inconclusive” intelligence at a NATO summit in The Hague. “The intelligence says we don’t know. it could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests,” Trump stated, before reverting to claims of “obliteration” and later suggesting the program was setback by “decades”.
The president even compared the bunker-buster bombs used on the Fordow and Natanz uranium enrichment sites to the impact of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, referencing their role in ending a conflict.
Did You Know? The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. the bombings remain a controversial topic to this day.
IAEA Concerns and Missing Uranium
Adding to the uncertainty, Trump rejected reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning Iran’s 400kg stock of 60% enriched uranium, which the IAEA can no longer account for. Vice-president JD Vance admitted earlier in the week that the U.S. did not know the uranium’s location and planned to discuss it with Iran.
However, CIA Director John Ratcliffe offered a more optimistic assessment, stating that “credible intelligence” indicated severe damage to the program, requiring years to rebuild. Ratcliffe cited “new intelligence from a historically reliable and accurate source/method,” noting the destruction of key facilities.
Ceasefire Uncertainty and Potential for Renewed Conflict
Trump also expressed less confidence in the previously declared “un
