An Israeli assessment determined that the U.S. strikes on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility have rendered it ‘inoperable’ and set the country’s nuclear program back ‘many years.’ The Israel Atomic Energy Commission said that the U.S. strikes destroyed ‘critical infrastructure’ at the Fordow site, making it inoperable. This assessment aligns with statements from Iranian officials, who acknowledged that the attacks caused extensive damage to their nuclear installations.
The strikes, which took place in the early hours of June 22, targeted Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. U.S. B-2 stealth bombers carried out the first strikes using 30,000-pound bunker busters, targeting the main underground enrichment site at Fordow. Israeli forces then conducted additional strikes, focusing on roads leading to the facility to further disrupt Iran’s operations. These actions were part of an ongoing effort to degrade the Iranian regime’s military capabilities.
Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, confirmed that the country is assessing the damage and preparing to restore its facilities, stating that the ‘plan is to prevent interruptions in the process of production and services.’ However, the attacks have effectively halted Iran’s nuclear enrichment efforts, according to the Israeli assessment. Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have vowed to respond if Iran rebuilds its nuclear program, highlighting the growing tensions between the two nations.
The situation has drawn international attention, with satellite images from Maxar Technology revealing the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear sites. These images have been widely circulated, providing further evidence of the impact of the U.S. and Israeli strikes. The ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel has significant implications for regional stability, with the potential for further escalation in the coming months.