Fact Check: Trump's airstrikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear program.

Fact Check: "Trump's airstrikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear program."

What We Know

In June 2025, the United States conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—using advanced military aircraft and precision-guided munitions, including Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) designed to penetrate deep underground facilities (BBC). President Donald Trump claimed that these strikes caused "monumental damage" and asserted that the sites had been "obliterated" (BBC). However, Iranian officials later stated that the targeted sites had been evacuated prior to the strikes, suggesting that the airstrikes did not significantly impact Iran's nuclear capabilities (BBC).

Analysis

The effectiveness of the airstrikes in achieving their intended goal of crippling Iran's nuclear program is contested. While U.S. military officials reported that the strikes inflicted "extremely severe damage" on the facilities, the Iranian government countered that the materials had already been removed, thus mitigating the impact of the attacks (BBC, NPR). Furthermore, both Saudi Arabia and the UN's nuclear watchdog reported no increase in radiation levels following the strikes, which could indicate that the facilities were not operational at the time of the attack (BBC).

The sources used in this analysis vary in reliability. The BBC, known for its comprehensive reporting, provided detailed accounts of the strikes and reactions from both U.S. and Iranian officials (BBC). NPR also offered insights into the political ramifications of the strikes, highlighting Trump's shift from a negotiation stance to military action (NPR). However, the Iranian claims about the evacuation of the sites should be viewed with caution, as they may serve a propagandistic purpose to downplay the effectiveness of the U.S. military action.

Conclusion

The claim that "Trump's airstrikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear program" is Partially True. While the strikes did cause significant damage to the targeted facilities, the effectiveness of these strikes in preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities is questionable. The assertion from Iranian officials that the sites were evacuated prior to the strikes suggests that the airstrikes may not have achieved their intended goal of crippling Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Fact Check: Trump's airstrikes failed to destroy Iran's nuclear program.