US Strikes Set Back Iran Nuclear Program Months, Not Destroyed

President Donald Trump claimed that U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites had completely obliterated the facilities, calling the strikes 'one of the most successful military strikes in history.' However, preliminary U.S. intelligence assessments revealed that the attacks, which involved bunker buster bombs dropped from B-2 jets, did not destroy Iran's nuclear capability, only delaying it by one to two months at best. Despite the classified report contradicting his statements, Trump doubled down on his claims and accused major news outlets like CNN and The New York Times of spreading falsehoods to demean the operation. Military officials also expressed concerns that Trump’s public disclosures ahead of the strike risked compromising the mission, leading planners to create decoy operations to mask the real attack. Israeli and U.S. sources confirmed that while the sites suffered substantial damage, underground facilities and enriched uranium stocks remained largely intact, suggesting Iran’s nuclear program could resume relatively quickly. Trump’s aggressive rhetoric and denial of the intelligence findings have drawn criticism for exaggerating the strike’s success amid ongoing regional tensions.