Following the premature release of a statement by the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) regarding damage to Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, Israel officially released the commission’s assessment. This followed reports concerning the extent of the damage caused by US strikes.
The IAEC stated that the US strikes on Fordow had critically damaged the site, rendering the enrichment facility inoperable. They further assessed that these strikes, combined with Israeli actions against other components of Iran’s military nuclear program, had significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear weapons development program.
Earlier, an Israel Defence Forces spokesperson indicated that the nuclear program had been severely damaged, setting it back by years. The US had targeted Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, with Fordow being a particularly hardened target. The US’s ‘bunker buster’ bombs, designed for deep penetration, were likely used to inflict the damage, given their unique capabilities.
US President Donald Trump claimed Fordow was destroyed. Israeli officials have, however, denied having agents on the ground at Fordow.
Preemptive strikes by Israel against Iranian nuclear sites occurred on June 13, citing intelligence that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons. Israeli officials believe Iran has developed the capacity to rapidly enrich uranium and assemble nuclear bombs, potentially possessing enough fissile material for up to 15 weapons. These actions represent a major escalation in a larger strategy, as described by officials, encompassing nuclear development, missile proliferation, and proxy warfare aimed at Israel’s destruction.
A US-brokered ceasefire went into effect, concluding 12 days of conflict during which Iranian missile strikes resulted in 28 Israeli fatalities and over 3,000 injuries.