Fact Check: "US military did not target Iran's enriched uranium during recent strikes."
What We Know
The claim that the US military did not target Iran's enriched uranium during recent strikes is nuanced. On June 22, 2025, the United States executed military strikes against three critical Iranian nuclear facilities: the Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant, the Natanz Nuclear Facility, and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. These sites are integral to Iran's nuclear program, particularly for uranium enrichment (source-2).
Reports indicate that while the US strikes caused significant damage to these facilities, particularly at Natanz where it is believed all centrifuges were destroyed, the core components of Iran's nuclear program were not completely obliterated. A preliminary assessment suggested that the strikes likely only set back Iran's nuclear capabilities by months rather than eliminating them entirely (source-7).
Furthermore, it is noted that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was likely moved prior to the strikes, and while the US claimed some of it was destroyed, there is no substantial evidence to support this assertion. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and European intelligence agencies believe that Iran may have dispersed its enriched uranium stockpiles across the country (source-1).
Analysis
The claim that the US military did not target Iran's enriched uranium can be interpreted in different ways. On one hand, the US strikes did target facilities directly associated with uranium enrichment, which implies an indirect targeting of enriched uranium capabilities. The destruction of centrifuges at Natanz and the damage to the Fordow facility indicate a clear intent to disrupt Iran's ability to enrich uranium (source-1, source-5).
However, the strikes did not specifically target stockpiles of enriched uranium, which were reportedly moved before the attacks. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the strikes in achieving their intended goal of significantly hindering Iran's nuclear ambitions. The IAEA's assessment that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile may still exist in undisclosed locations further complicates the narrative (source-1).
The reliability of sources varies; while the New York Times and CNN provide detailed analyses based on intelligence assessments, Wikipedia serves as a general reference that compiles information from various reports. Thus, while it is a useful starting point, it should be cross-referenced with more authoritative sources for critical evaluations.
Conclusion
The claim that the US military did not target Iran's enriched uranium is Partially True. While the strikes did not specifically target stockpiles of enriched uranium, they did aim at facilities crucial for uranium enrichment, which indirectly affects Iran's ability to produce enriched uranium. However, the effectiveness of these strikes in eliminating Iran's nuclear capabilities remains debatable, as much of the enriched uranium may have been relocated prior to the attacks.
Sources
- After U.S. and Israeli Strikes, Could Iran Make a Nuclear Bomb? New York Times
- United States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites - Wikipedia Wikipedia
- The US strike on Iran's nuclear sites: preliminary thoughts on the outcomes Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- Exclusive: Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not destroy core components CNN
