US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that American airstrikes had “completely destroyed” Iran’s major nuclear sites during coordinated attacks last month. His remarks, posted on Truth Social, came amid growing reports suggesting otherwise.
Trump insisted that the Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities were “obliterated,” saying Iran would need years to rebuild — and would be better off starting new sites altogether.
The June 22 strikes targeted Iran’s uranium enrichment infrastructure, coinciding with Israeli operations against Iran’s nuclear and military assets. While Washington described the mission as a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Tehran has maintained that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian purposes.
However, multiple US media reports, including a recent NBC News investigation, suggest a more nuanced reality. Citing military damage assessments and anonymous officials, NBC reported that only one of the three sites was severely damaged. The remaining two were classified as repairable and potentially operational within months.
The report also revealed that the Pentagon had devised a broader, multi-week campaign to cause greater damage but that President Trump opted for a more limited strike, reportedly due to concerns over regional escalation and civilian casualties.
The conflicting narratives underscore rising tensions and uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and US foreign policy direction.
