IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed that the nuclear setback inflicted on Iran marks a turning point. “I think the Iranian nuclear program has been set back significantly, significantly,” Grossi said. He described the transformation as “one Iran—before June 13, nuclear Iran—and one now,” likening the difference to “night and day.”
The UN agency found “extensive damage at several nuclear sites in Iran,” noting radioactive material releases contained on-site. Engineers detected “two impact holes from the U.S. strikes” at Natanz enrichment facilities. Such physical evidence undercuts claims that the strikes inflicted only limited harm.
Independent analysts reinforced these findings. David Albright reported the attacks “effectively destroyed Iran’s centrifuge enrichment program.” He added, “It will be a long time before Iran comes anywhere near the capability it had before the attack.”
Conservative voices, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, said the strikes “devastated” and “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capability.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rebuffed reports claiming minimal damage as “flat‑out wrong,” praising the strike’s pilots and the mission’s execution.
Jonathan Conricus, former IDF spokesman, emphasized that Iran lacks the scientists, infrastructure, and centrifuges needed. “Even if it hasn’t been destroyed, it is out of reach, most likely buried under hundreds of feet of rock and concrete,” Conricus noted.
