Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Jun 25: In a first official admission, Iran has confirmed severe damage to its nuclear facilities following US-led airstrikes. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Al Jazeera on Wednesday, “Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure,” but declined to share further details.

The US deployed B-2 stealth bombers to target three major nuclear sites—Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan—using bunker-buster bombs. The strikes were carried out in coordination with Israel, which claimed it aimed to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

US President Donald Trump, speaking in The Hague, celebrated the operation, saying, “It was obliteration. Iran’s nuclear program has been put back decades.” Dismissing initial US intelligence reports suggesting only minor setbacks, Trump said Iran now seeks recovery, not enrichment. When asked if the US would strike again if Iran resumed enrichment, he said, “Sure.”

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed similar claims, stating that Iran's nuclear sites were brought “to ruin.”

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has yet to access the damaged sites. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said his top priority is to send inspectors to assess the impact and verify Iran’s uranium stockpile.

Iran’s admission follows mounting reports of widespread destruction to its nuclear infrastructure, with concerns rising over regional security and global nuclear diplomacy.