Israel: Iran’s Nuclear Program Crippled by US Strikes, Despite Leaked US Doubts
Israel says Iran’s nuclear ambitions have suffered a major blow following coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes last weekend. Officials in Tel Aviv claim the Fordo uranium enrichment site was left “inoperable” after targeted attacks, which they say damaged Iran’s nuclear program by “many years.”
The statement from the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), released via the White House and later by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized that the destruction of Fordo’s core infrastructure marked a turning point.
“We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, have set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years,” the IAEC stated.
The commission added that Iran’s program could remain indefinitely stalled if the country fails to regain access to enriched uranium.
Satellite imagery confirmed the extent of physical damage at Fordo and Isfahan, with craters seen near facility entry points. The Fordo complex, buried beneath a mountain near Qom, has long been considered one of the most fortified nuclear sites in the world.
The US Department of Defense reported that 125 aircraft participated in the June 22 operation, hitting Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan in a 25-minute window. President Donald Trump described the mission as a “spectacular success,” insisting Iran’s nuclear program had been “completely obliterated.”
But a leaked intelligence report from the Defense Intelligence Agency challenged that assertion. The preliminary assessment estimated the strikes set Iran’s program back only “a few months, tops,” noting Iran had moved parts of its enriched uranium stockpile before the attack.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the leaked report, calling it “preliminary” and “low confidence,” while hinting at possible political motivations behind its release.
At the NATO summit in the Netherlands, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Iran’s earlier attack on a US base in Qatar “reckless” and urged Tehran to return to negotiations.
“We must ensure the ceasefire holds,” Starmer said. “Ultimately, a complete, verifiable, and irreversible end to Iran’s nuclear program must be achieved through diplomacy.”
Meanwhile, tensions appear to be easing on the ground. In Tehran, residents are returning to routine after days of anxiety and military buildup. The city’s internet services have been mostly restored, according to Iranian officials, though restrictions on social media remain in place.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization extended a ban on domestic and international flights until Thursday. No new tickets are being issued, according to Mehr News Agency.
While Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support sharing a video of the US president praising Israel’s efforts questions remain about the actual damage inflicted and whether the strikes achieved long-term disruption.
Experts say confirmation of Fordo’s incapacitation will depend on additional intelligence sources, including underground sensors, radiation detectors, and high-resolution mapping tools such as LIDAR.
For now, Israel insists the mission struck a decisive blow.
“The achievement is historic,” the IAEC concluded. “And if Iran remains without access to key materials, it can hold.”
