The Fordow Facility Was Not Even Destroyed, Let Alone Iran’s Entire ‘Nuclear Industry’

According to assessments by U.S. intelligence sources, the Midnight Hammer operation failed to eliminate Iran’s nuclear sites. Some classified documents indicate that only peripheral facilities were damaged, while the main installations remained intact.

An international analysis group reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader addressed the U.S. president’s claim of having completely dismantled Iran’s nuclear capabilities in a recent speech, saying: “He boasts about assassinating an Iranian scientist; yes, you assassinated a scientist. You targeted individuals like Taheranchi and Abbasi. But you cannot assassinate their knowledge. He boasts about bombing and destroying Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, let him continue in that illusion.”

Although attacks were carried out on Iran’s nuclear sites, and the assassination of scientists regarded as assets was a costly action, even if the Fordow site had been destroyed, it would not eliminate the nuclear industry. This is because Iran’s nuclear program is built on indigenous knowledge, and such an industry cannot be eradicated. As stated by the Supreme Leader, “the knowledge of nuclear scientists” cannot be assassinated.

The Fordow facility has not been destroyed.

In multiple speeches, Trump has referred to the Midnight Hammer operation and the attacks on Iranian sites. He has praised B-2 bombers and called for adding more of these bombers to the to the U.S. military arsenal. However, in this military operation, said to have taken more than two decades to plan, U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that even the Fordow site was not destroyed.

The Defense Intelligence Agency was among the first agencies to release its assessment. In response to claims that Iran’s nuclear facilities were completely destroyed, the DIA said nuclear capability was only set back by three to six months. Reuters reported that three informed American sources said Iran has tunnels in Natanz that even 15-ton GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs cannot penetrate.

U.S. Central Command also concluded that American airstrikes did not destroy Iran’s nuclear sites. CENTCOM reported that the core components of the nuclear program were not eliminated and only experienced a delay of several months.

The New York Times reported that “the attack sealed off the entrances to two facilities but did not collapse their underground buildings.”

The Washington Post also reported: “Information on Iran’s damages indicates that two nuclear sites were not destroyed. U.S. officials involved in the intelligence assessment of the Midnight Hammer operation warn that claims of total destruction may be exaggerated.”