Fact Check: Secret nuclear facilities in Iran remain operational after US strikes.

Fact Check: "Secret nuclear facilities in Iran remain operational after US strikes."

What We Know

Following recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, preliminary assessments indicate that while the attacks did seal off entrances to two facilities, they did not collapse the underground structures themselves. According to a classified report from the Defense Intelligence Agency, the strikes may have set back Iran's nuclear program by only a few months, rather than obliterating it as claimed by President Trump (source-1). Notably, much of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile was reportedly moved prior to the strikes, suggesting that critical components of their nuclear program may still be operational (source-2).

Furthermore, U.S. intelligence officials believe that Iran maintains secret nuclear facilities that were not targeted in the strikes, which could still be operational (source-6). This aligns with assertions from some Israeli officials who suspect that Iran has small covert enrichment facilities designed to continue its nuclear program in the event of an attack on larger sites (source-1).

Analysis

The claim that "secret nuclear facilities in Iran remain operational after US strikes" is supported by multiple sources, including U.S. intelligence assessments and statements from military officials. The initial damage reports indicate that while the strikes caused significant damage to the targeted sites, they did not fully incapacitate Iran's nuclear capabilities. For instance, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the operation was intended to severely degrade Iran's nuclear infrastructure, but the extent of the damage was less than anticipated (source-3).

Moreover, the assertion that Iran has maintained operational secret facilities is corroborated by intelligence reports, which suggest that these sites were not included in the recent strikes and could still be functional (source-6). However, the reliability of these assessments can be questioned, as they are based on classified information and may be subject to bias or misinterpretation.

The credibility of the sources varies; while major news outlets like The New York Times and CNN provide detailed reports based on official assessments, the potential for political bias exists, especially given the contentious nature of U.S.-Iran relations and the differing narratives presented by various stakeholders (source-1, source-6).

Conclusion

The claim that "secret nuclear facilities in Iran remain operational after US strikes" is Partially True. While the U.S. strikes did cause damage to known nuclear sites, they did not eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities entirely, and intelligence assessments suggest that Iran may still have operational secret facilities. The situation remains fluid, and further assessments will be necessary to fully understand the implications of the strikes on Iran's nuclear program.

Sources

1. Strike Set Back Iran's Nuclear Program by Only a Few ...
2. US strikes may have set back Iran nuclear program only ...
3. What we know about US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites
4. World awaits Iranian response after US hits nuclear sites
5. Iran: une cyberattaque de grande ampleur paralyse les banques
6. Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not ...
7. L’Iran dévoile une « ville de missiles » souterraine
8. US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites only set back program ...