Despite former US President Donald Trump’s claim that recent airstrikes had “totally obliterated” Iran’s top nuclear facilities, new satellite images and IAEA reports cast doubt on the extent of the destruction.
The June 15 US-led bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites was coordinated after Israeli strikes on Tehran and followed by high-powered GBU-57 bunker buster bombs deployed from B-2 stealth jets targeting deeply buried uranium enrichment sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
🛰️ Satellite Images Tell a Different Story
Independent analysis by Maxar Technologies revealed fresh craters and collapsed tunnel entrances at the Fordow site, but a large surface control building remained untouched. The Natanz facility, buried under 40 meters of reinforced concrete, showed a crater above the underground enrichment zone — yet evidence of penetration remains inconclusive.
At Isfahan, new damage was reported after the US joined in attacks previously launched by Israel. The IAEA notes “extensive structural damage” at the site, raising concerns about radioactive and chemical contamination.
🧪 IAEA Struggles to Track Enriched Uranium
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is now facing its biggest challenge in decades: tracking nearly 9,000 kilograms of enriched uranium, including 410 kg at 60% purity, enough to produce up to 10 nuclear warheads.
Due to ongoing military activity, IAEA inspectors have been unable to locate Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, which officials in Tehran admit was moved to undisclosed locations after breaking IAEA seals. The precise location is unknown.
According to Tariq Rauf, former IAEA safeguards chief:
“With radioactive particles dispersed post-bombing, environmental forensic methods to trace uranium are now permanently compromised.”
Satellite Image
A Setback for Global Nuclear Accountability
Experts warn that rather than halting Iran’s program, these attacks may push it deeper underground — both literally and figuratively. With international monitoring systems disabled, Iran may now accelerate its uranium processing activities in undeclared hardened bunkers.
Darya Dolzikova, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said:
“Instead of increasing transparency, these strikes could reinforce Iran’s belief that cooperation with the IAEA brings vulnerability—not security.”
Broader Conflict and Strategic Fallout
The IAEA Board of Governors will convene in Vienna on June 24, calling for a cessation of hostilities so that inspection efforts can resume. However, military analysts believe that Iran, Israel, and the US remain on high alert, raising fears of wider regional escalation.
China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has also issued concerns that continued Western aggression could push Tehran to abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) altogether.
FAQs: Iran Nuclear Strike & Global Fallout
Q1: Did Trump’s attack destroy Iran’s nuclear sites? Satellite images and IAEA reports indicate partial damage only. While some facilities like Isfahan were heavily impacted, deeply buried sites like Natanz and Fordow remain largely intact.
Q2: What does this mean for Iran’s uranium stockpile? The location of enriched uranium is now unknown, making it harder for IAEA to account for Iran’s nuclear material, a critical function in preventing weapons development.
Q3: How does this affect global nuclear monitoring? Post-bombing contamination prevents forensic environmental sampling, hindering nuclear verification efforts for years to come.
Q4: Could Iran go further underground with its nuclear program? Experts believe Iran will likely build more fortified, secret sites, given that cooperation with IAEA no longer guarantees safety from attack.
Q5: Will this situation lead to war escalation? With ongoing Israel-Iran-US tensions, analysts say there’s a real risk of broader military escalation, though diplomatic channels remain active.
