President Donald Trump didn’t hold back when he called the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities a “spectacular success,” claiming they wiped out three key sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. But as new satellite images come to light, experts are wondering if the damage was as severe as he described. The strikes, launched on June 21, followed Israel’s attacks on Iranian sites on June 13, driven by concerns over Iran’s nuclear weapon development.
Trump used Truth Social to urge Iran not to retaliate and to negotiate with Israel. When Iran tried to hit a U.S. air base in Qatar on June 23, Qatari defenses blocked the missiles, and Trump dismissed it as a weak move. He briefly announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, but it fell apart when Iran reportedly fired missiles at Israel again. Now, the focus is on whether the U.S. strikes truly disrupted Iran’s nuclear program, and the latest images suggest a different story.
Maxar Technologies’ satellite photos show surface damage at Fordow, like craters near entrances, but the underground facility seems largely intact. Nuclear expert Dr. Jeffrey Lewis explained to The Independent that Fordow’s deep, fortified structure makes it tough to destroy, and Iran likely had time to move critical materials, like uranium, before the strikes. This means the attacks may not have touched Iran’s nuclear stockpile.
Iran has stockpiled around 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, just 30% shy of what’s needed for multiple nuclear weapons. Rafael Grossi from the International Atomic Energy Agency said they’re working to track this uranium, but Vice President JD Vance admitted its location is a mystery. Some experts even suggest the strikes might push Iran to speed up its nuclear work, rather than slow it down.
Trump’s bold claims of “total obliteration” don’t quite match the satellite evidence, which shows limited damage to key underground facilities. The strikes made headlines, but their real impact on Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear. As tensions continue, the world is left wondering what’s next in this high-stakes conflict.
