U.N. Nuclear Chief Confirms Iran Nuclear Program Damaged Not Destroyed After U.S. Strikes

Recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, including Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, caused significant but not total damage, contradicting President Trump's claim that the sites were "completely and totally obliterated." Experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agree that while the attacks dealt a setback—estimated at a few months—they did not destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities or knowledge, which Iran retains and can rebuild. The IAEA's director, Rafael Mariano Grossi, emphasized that Iran could resume uranium enrichment within months if it chooses, and that some enriched uranium may have been moved to secret locations before the strikes. Scholars like Sayyed Hossein Mousavian also characterize the strikes as counterproductive, noting that knowledge and technology underpinning the nuclear program cannot be eliminated by bombing, and Iran remains committed to rebuilding. The situation underscores ongoing uncertainty about Iran's nuclear stockpiles and highlights the need for diplomacy and transparency, including renewed access for nuclear inspectors to clarify the status of Iran's program. Despite the strikes, Iran still possesses the technical and industrial capacity to pursue nuclear enrichment, maintaining the nuclear threat President Trump aimed to eliminate.