US President Donald Trump has labeled the intelligence report concerning the impact on the Iranian nuclear program as “inconclusive.” However, he hinted that the damage inflicted could be “severe.” In his words, “The intelligence was very inconclusive. It says we don’t know. It could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests,” he told reporters just before attending the NATO summit. “It was very severe. There was obliteration,” he added.
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Earlier, Mr. Trump dismissed reports from US media that suggested the strikes on Iran had only set back the nation’s nuclear ambitions by a few months. This was in contrast to his statements on social media, where he claimed that the nuclear sites had been “completely destroyed.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a “historic victory” against Iran, despite the US intelligence report. This came after Iran and Israel reached a ceasefire, ending 12 days of retaliatory strikes. Mr. Trump had escalated the conflict by utilizing bunker-busting bombs over the weekend, asserting that they successfully destroyed critical Iranian nuclear sites.
In light of the situation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the validity of the US intelligence but labeled it “flat-out wrong.” Following the announcement of the ceasefire, Mr. Netanyahu stated, “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. We have thwarted Iran’s nuclear project, and if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild it, we will act with the same determination and intensity to foil any attempt.”
The head of the UN nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, emphasized the urgency of returning to Iran’s nuclear facilities to assess the fallout from recent military actions. “This is the number one priority,” Grossi asserted during a press conference in Vienna. He aims for inspectors to return to Iranian sites, particularly the three facilities where uranium enrichment was occurring until Israel’s strikes on June 13.
When questioned about Iran’s status regarding enriched uranium stocks, especially those near weapons-grade levels, Grossi referenced a letter he received from Iranian officials. They indicated intentions to take “special measures” to protect their nuclear materials and equipment. “They did not provide specific details, but it was clear this implied that the material is still intact,” he noted, hinting at the likelihood that much of it had survived the attacks.
Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament has reportedly passed a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a move that would require the approval of the top security body. Notably, cooperation with the IAEA is a key commitment under the non-proliferation treaty that allows Iran access to nuclear technology as long as it refrains from pursuing weapons.
Israel has justified its bombing campaign as necessary to deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons—an assertion Iran has consistently denied. Additionally, Israel claims its actions have delayed Iran’s nuclear program by “years.” Following Trump’s rebuke of both parties for early violations of the ceasefire, Iran expressed willingness to adhere to the agreement if Israel did the same, while Israel claimed to have refrained from further strikes.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed his nation’s readiness to resume discussions about its nuclear program, although he maintained that Iran would continue to “assert its legitimate rights” for the peaceful use of atomic energy.
Reports in US media indicate that leaked intelligence suggests the US strikes did not fully eliminate Iran’s centrifuges or the stockpile of enriched uranium. The strikes appear to have sealed off some facility entrances without demolishing underground structures.
In response to the leaks, Ms. Leavitt stated on social media, “The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program.”
While the ongoing shadow conflict between Iran and Israel has persisted for decades, the recent 12-day confrontation has proven to be the most destructive encounter to date. Israeli strikes targeted nuclear and military installations, resulting in the deaths of scientists and key military figures, while triggering a barrage of Iranian missile strikes on Israel.
This escalation reached its peak with US strikes on underground Iranian nuclear sites using advanced bunker-busting bombs—a capability that Israel lacks—followed by Iranian retaliation targeting the largest US military facility in the Middle East, based in Qatar. Trump dismissed Iran’s response as “weak,” expressing gratitude for their advance notice and outlining the terms of the ceasefire just hours later.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
