In a notable shift in the official narrative from Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that the U.S. airstrikes carried out on June 22 caused “significant and extensive damage” to the Fordow nuclear facility, which is one of the most fortified sites within Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
This statement, made during an interview with CBS News, marks the first admission from Tehran regarding the serious losses sustained at its underground facilities, following days of official downplaying.
Araghchi indicated that “no one knows precisely what happened inside Fordow,” but he affirmed that “the installations suffered considerable and serious damage,” and that the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization is conducting a thorough assessment that will be presented to the government at a later time.
The strikes targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, involving U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers employing bunker-buster bombs designed to penetrate deep nuclear sites.
At that time, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the attacks “completely destroyed” Iran’s nuclear capabilities, describing the operation as “100% successful.”
However, later assessments published by CNN and The New York Times cited intelligence sources suggesting that the strikes might disrupt Iran’s nuclear program for months rather than the years that Washington had anticipated.
The Director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, contradicted this assessment, asserting that “the damage is severe and may take years to repair.”
Skeptical Reports
On Sunday, The Washington Post reported, citing knowledgeable sources about classified intelligence, that intercepted communications among senior Iranian officials revealed doubts concerning the extent of damage inflicted by the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It suggested that the impact was less severe than officially claimed.
According to the information, Iranian officials questioned why the attacks ordered by President Trump did not yield the catastrophic results that were expected.
Nonetheless, a senior U.S. intelligence official emphasized that this information represents only a limited part of the entire intelligence picture, asserting that a comprehensive assessment requires analysis from multiple sources.
Suspicious Activity
Satellite images had shown increased activity of vehicles and trucks at the entrance of the Fordow site just days prior to the strike, reinforcing the theory that Iran moved sensitive nuclear materials – including enriched uranium and centrifuge equipment – to undisclosed locations.
Iranian sources later confirmed that “the hazardous materials were removed from the facility before the attack,” although Trump cast doubt on this claim, stating, “They did not move anything.”
The 12-Day Battle
These developments follow a 12-day armed conflict between Iran and Israel, which began on June 13 with Israeli airstrikes on military, civilian, and nuclear sites within Iran. This conflict resulted in the deaths of 606 Iranians and injuries to over 5,000, according to Iran’s Health Ministry, while Tehran retaliated with missile and drone strikes aimed at targets in Israel, resulting in 29 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries, according to figures from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Fighting halted on June 24 after U.S. diplomatic intervention led to a ceasefire. However, Iranian military leaders expressed skepticism regarding Israel’s commitment to the truce, with Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi stating that Iran is “prepared to respond forcefully” if hostilities resume.