Recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have ignited fierce debate, with conflicting narratives emerging from Washington and Tehran. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that no evidence suggests Iran moved enriched uranium from its nuclear sites before the attacks, claiming all materials remained in place as targeted.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the operation as a historic success, predicting it will be remembered as a landmark achievement. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the strikes as ineffective, declaring that Tehran delivered a “slap in the face” to Washington through its resilience.
On June 22, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles targeted Iran’s key nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—in an operation dubbed “Midnight Hammer.” President Donald Trump claimed the strikes “completely obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, aiming to halt what the U.S. calls a growing nuclear threat.
Rubio, speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, emphasized that intelligence showed no preemptive removal of uranium stockpiles, contradicting Iranian claims. Leavitt, in a White House briefing, described the operation as a meticulously executed blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, predicting its historical significance.
Initial Pentagon assessments, per General Dan Caine, reported severe damage to all three sites, though the extent of underground destruction at Fordow remains unclear. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted visible craters at Fordow but detected no off-site radiation, suggesting no reactor breaches. Despite U.S. confidence, a leaked intelligence report cited by Reuters indicates the strikes may have only set Iran’s nuclear program back by months, not years, prompting criticism of exaggerated claims.
Iran’s Defiant Response
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a televised address on June 26, rejected U.S. claims of devastation, asserting the strikes “failed to achieve anything significant.” Speaking from an undisclosed location, he accused Washington of exaggerating the damage to mask its failure. Khamenei claimed Iran’s missile barrages on Israel and a retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar demonstrated Tehran’s strength, delivering a “heavy slap” to the U.S.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei admitted to Al Jazeera that nuclear facilities suffered severe damage but maintained that enriched uranium, scientific expertise, and political will remain intact. Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, complicating efforts to monitor its uranium stockpiles, which the agency estimates include over 408kg of 60% enriched uranium—near weapons-grade.
Conflicting Narratives, Regional Tensions
The strikes followed Israel’s two-week air campaign against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, which killed key figures, including IRGC Aerospace Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, causing civilian casualties and significant damage. Tehran’s threats to target U.S. bases and potentially close the Strait of Hormuz have heightened fears of a broader conflict, though no such actions have materialized.
While the U.S. insists its goal was to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, not pursue regime change, Trump’s remarks about toppling Iran’s leadership have fueled speculation. Khamenei’s absence from public view since June 13, coupled with reports of him sheltering in a bunker, has raised questions about his safety amid alleged Israeli assassination attempts.
Read more: Iran’s Supreme Leader Claims Victory Amid Ceasefire, Internal Crackdowns Intensify
As both sides dig in, the IAEA warns that attacks on nuclear sites risk catastrophic radiation leaks, though none have been reported. With Iran rejecting U.S. nuclear deal proposals and vowing to continue enrichment, diplomatic paths remain fraught. The world watches as Tehran weighs its next move, balancing defiance with the reality of a battered nuclear program.
