Iran admits nuclear sites badly damaged in US strikes

Tehran

Days after US airstrikes, Iran officially admitted on Wednesday that its nuclear facilities suffered “significant damage”, following an assault by American B-2 bombers using bunker-buster bombs. This comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel, now entering its second day.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, speaking to Al Jazeera, acknowledged, “Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure,” though he declined to provide details. The strikes, part of Operation Midnight Hammer, targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—major enrichment sites.

Despite US President Donald Trump claiming the facilities were “completely obliterated,” intelligence reports suggest Iran had relocated enriched uranium stockpiles prior to the strikes. Trump rejected these findings, calling them “fake news” and asserting it would take “years” for Iran to rebuild.

The Iranian Parliament, angered by what it termed international silence over the attacks, voted overwhelmingly to suspend cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog (IAEA). Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Iran’s peaceful nuclear program would now “advance more quickly.”

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed outreach to Iran to resume inspections and reassess uranium stockpiles, emphasizing, “We need to return. We need to engage.”

On the ceasefire, both Israel and Iran initially accused each other of violations, but hostilities appear to have ceased. Trump, speaking at the NATO summit in the Netherlands, said the truce was going “very well.”

Analysts remain cautious, noting Iran's nuclear know-how remains intact, despite the strikes. Israeli military officials also assessed the program has been “set back by years.”

The path to long-term peace remains uncertain, with Iran refusing to abandon its nuclear ambitions.