US strikes hit three Iranian nuclear sites, only one severely damaged, says report

According to a report by NBC News, citing current and former US officials, three nuclear facilities were targeted in US strikes against Iran in June, but only one sustained serious damage.

The report stated that US officials believe the attack on the Fordow nuclear facility was successful, setting back its enrichment capacity by about two years. This assessment was based on information from two serving officials.

The other two facilities targeted by the US were not seriously damaged and were only rendered partially inoperable, meaning Iran could resume enrichment activities within the next few months if it chose to do so.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the NBC report. The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told NBC, “As the President has said and experts have confirmed, Iran’s nuclear capability has been completely destroyed.”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated to NBC, “President Trump was clear, and the American people know it: Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz have been completely destroyed. There is no doubt about that.”

An initial assessment in June by the US Defense Intelligence Agency suggested the strikes might have only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. However, Trump administration officials claimed this assessment had “low confidence” and was refuted by new intelligence indicating that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been severely damaged.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had also stated that the attack on the Fordow facility caused “heavy damage.”

Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility was struck by US B-2 stealth bombers, with each aircraft carrying 12 GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs. US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane, explained that each target point was first hit with two bombs to penetrate the concrete casings, after which five more bombs were directed at each location.