Trump’s Claim of “Obliterating” Iran’s Nuclear Program Falls Short, Intelligence Report Reveals
On June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump claimed U.S. airstrikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. However, a Defense Intelligence Agency report contradicts this, stating the strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. The assessment, leaked to media, indicates that while entrances to facilities were sealed, underground infrastructure, including centrifuges, remained largely intact. Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, critical for nuclear ambitions, was also preserved, with much of it moved before the attack.
Trump’s assertion of total destruction was echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but experts and satellite imagery analysis by Maxar Technologies show limited damage, particularly at the fortified Fordo site. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported no off-site radiation increase, suggesting minimal disruption. Iranian officials downplayed the strikes, claiming their nuclear knowledge remains intact. The White House dismissed the intelligence report as “flat-out wrong,” but critics argue Trump’s exaggerated claims risk misinforming the public and escalating tensions without achieving strategic goals. This discrepancy highlights the complexity of targeting Iran’s deeply buried nuclear infrastructure.