Fact Check: Trump Claims to Have Obliterated Iran's Nuclear Program with Airstrikes
What We Know
On June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military had conducted airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. He claimed that these strikes had "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities (BBC, AP News). The Fordo facility, in particular, is known for its deep underground location, making it a critical target for any military action aimed at Iran's nuclear ambitions (BBC).
While Iranian officials confirmed that the facilities were struck, they denied that the attacks caused significant damage, stating that materials had been evacuated from the sites prior to the strikes (BBC). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no increase in radiation levels following the attacks, suggesting that the strikes may not have had the catastrophic impact Trump suggested (BBC).
Analysis
Trump's assertion that the airstrikes "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program is an exaggeration. While the U.S. did target significant sites, the extent of the damage remains unclear. Experts have noted that the Fordo facility, being deeply buried, may not have been fully destroyed even with the use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, the most powerful bomb available for such operations (BBC).
Moreover, the Iranian government has indicated that they had already removed critical materials from the targeted sites, which undermines the claim of a decisive blow to their nuclear capabilities (BBC). Former U.S. officials have also expressed skepticism about the long-term effectiveness of the strikes, indicating that while they may have caused temporary disruption, they did not eliminate Iran's nuclear potential (BBC, AP News).
In terms of source reliability, the information comes from a mix of reputable news organizations such as the BBC, AP News, and the New York Times, which are generally considered credible. However, the political context surrounding the claims—particularly Trump's history of making bold statements regarding military actions—should be taken into account when evaluating the accuracy of his assertions (AP News, NPR).
Conclusion
The claim that Trump "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program with airstrikes is Partially True. While the U.S. did conduct significant military operations against Iranian nuclear facilities, the actual impact of these strikes is still uncertain. Reports indicate that the facilities may not have been severely damaged, and the Iranian government had preemptively evacuated critical materials. Thus, while the strikes were a notable escalation in military actions, they did not achieve the total destruction of Iran's nuclear capabilities as claimed by Trump.
Sources
- What we know about US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities
- Live Updates: Trump Claims Success After Bombing Key Iran Nuclear Sites
- With US airstrikes, Trump aims to deliver decisive blow to Iran
- Trump Claims Success After Bombing Key Iran Nuclear Sites
- Trump says key Iranian nuclear facilities 'totally obliterated'
- U.S. completes strikes on Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
