After an unusual step by the White House of sharing information from the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), Israel released its statement. The statement addressed the damage at Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, following US strikes.
The IAEC asserted that the US strikes had destroyed critical infrastructure at Fordow, crippling the enrichment facility. They estimated that the combined impact of the American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, along with Israeli actions targeting elements of the Iranian military nuclear program, had set back Iran’s progress in developing nuclear weapons.
An Israel Defence Forces spokesperson also stated that the nuclear program had been extensively damaged, pushing it back several years. The US attacks targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Fordow, a heavily fortified uranium enrichment site, was likely hit using specialized ‘bunker buster’ bombs. Only the US possesses the aircraft necessary to deploy such weapons.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Fordow was destroyed, while Israeli officials denied having personnel at the site during the strikes. Preemptive Israeli strikes took place on June 13, triggered by intelligence suggesting Iran’s advancement toward nuclear weapons. According to Israeli defence officials, Iran has developed the capacity for rapid uranium enrichment and nuclear bomb assembly, possessing material for up to 15 warheads.
The strikes signaled an escalation in a wider strategy involving nuclear development, missile proliferation, and proxy warfare, all seen as threats to Israel. A ceasefire, mediated by the US, was implemented following 12 days of conflict, during which Iranian missile strikes caused significant casualties and injuries among Israelis.