Iran Confirms Nuclear Facilities Were Badly Damaged by U.S. Strikes; Trump Disputes Intelligence Report
A satellite overview shows the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility, along with damage from June 23 airstrikes, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, near Qom, Iran, June 24, 2025. Photo: Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump stated earlier that missile strikes launched over the weekend caused severe damage to Iranian nuclear facilities. This was later corroborated by Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, who confirmed on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, that the sites had been "badly damaged" by American airstrikes.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mr. Baghaei avoided giving detailed information but admitted that Sunday’s strikes by U.S. B-2 bombers using bunker-buster munitions inflicted significant harm. “Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure,” he said.
His remarks came shortly after President Trump addressed the issue, claiming the missile attacks had been severe. However, Trump also acknowledged that current intelligence assessments on the situation remain inconclusive.
A report by Reuters, based on a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment, suggested the strikes had only set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by a few months. This conclusion, however, was swiftly rejected by President Trump and the White House.
“The intelligence was very inconclusive,” Trump told reporters before attending the NATO Summit in The Hague. “The intelligence says we don’t know. It could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests.”
Despite the inconclusive intelligence, President Trump maintained that the strikes were highly effective. He claimed that the damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities would deter future attempts to rebuild. “Iran’s nuclear program has been set back basically decades, because I don’t think they’ll ever do it again,” Trump asserted.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump reiterated that Iran’s nuclear facilities were “completely destroyed.” Meanwhile, White House officials dismissed the Reuters report, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt telling CNN that the “alleged” conclusions were “flat-out wrong.”
As the Iran-Israel ceasefire continues to hold, Trump’s special envoy noted that negotiations with Iran have been “promising,” though much remains uncertain as the global community monitors developments.
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