Fact Check: US military did not target Iran's enriched uranium stockpile during recent strikes.

Fact Check: "US military did not target Iran's enriched uranium stockpile during recent strikes."

What We Know

Recent military strikes by the United States and Israel aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities have led to significant discussions regarding their effectiveness and the specific targets of these operations. According to a New York Times report, a classified U.S. intelligence assessment indicated that much of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile was moved prior to the strikes. This assessment suggests that the strikes did not eliminate Iran's enriched uranium capabilities, as the White House claimed without providing evidence that the stockpile was destroyed.

The strikes reportedly targeted three key nuclear sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. However, the BBC noted that these attacks did not destroy Iran's nuclear program but likely only set it back by months. Furthermore, the assessment from the Pentagon indicated that while some infrastructure was damaged, the core components of Iran's nuclear program, including its centrifuges, remained largely intact.

Analysis

The claim that the U.S. military did not specifically target Iran's enriched uranium stockpile is supported by multiple sources. The New York Times highlighted that the enriched uranium was likely moved before the strikes, and the U.S. intelligence community's early assessments suggested that the strikes did not achieve their intended goal of dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities.

The BBC corroborated this by reporting that the strikes probably only set back Iran's nuclear program by a few months, indicating that the enriched uranium stockpile was not a primary target. Additionally, a report from AP News emphasized that the strikes did not destroy Iran's nuclear program but rather caused temporary setbacks.

However, there are conflicting narratives regarding the success of the strikes. Some U.S. officials, including President Trump, claimed that the nuclear sites were "completely destroyed," which contradicts the intelligence assessments indicating that the core components remained operational. This discrepancy raises questions about the reliability of the sources making these claims, particularly given the political motivations that may influence statements from government officials.

The CNN report further supports the assertion that the strikes did not eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities, reinforcing the idea that the military actions were not as effective as claimed by some officials.

Conclusion

The evidence indicates that the U.S. military did not specifically target Iran's enriched uranium stockpile during the recent strikes, as much of it had been moved prior to the attacks. The strikes did not destroy Iran's nuclear program but likely only set it back temporarily. Therefore, the claim is True.

Sources

1. After U.S. and Israeli Strikes, Could Iran Make a Nuclear Bomb?
2. US strikes did not destroy Iran nuclear programme, says ...
3. US strikes only set back Iran's nuclear program by months, ...
4. No known intelligence that Iran moved uranium, US ...
5. Fate of Iran's Enriched Uranium Is a Mystery
6. Exclusive: Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not ...
7. U.S.、USA、America 有什么区别？ - 知乎
8. US did not use bunker-buster bombs on one of Iran's ...