U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Thursday there is no confirmed intelligence indicating Iran relocated highly enriched uranium ahead of recent American airstrikes targeting its nuclear facilities. The remarks come amid intensifying debates about the effectiveness of the operation and Tehran's current nuclear capabilities.
Strikes and Strategic Uncertainty
U.S. forces deployed over a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs early Sunday against three Iranian nuclear sites, including the deeply fortified Fordow facility. While President Donald Trump claimed Iran's nuclear program was "obliterated," experts and leaked intelligence reports suggest the impact may be limited. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed unusual vehicle activity at Fordow days before the strikes, fueling speculation about uranium relocation.
Conflicting Assessments Emerge
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that 60% enriched uranium had been moved from Fordow prior to the attack, while The Financial Times cited European intelligence indicating most stockpiles remained intact due to decentralized storage. Hegseth dismissed these claims during a press briefing, accusing media of underestimating the operation's success and citing CIA Director John Ratcliffe's assessment of "severe damage" requiring years to repair.
Political Reactions and Next Steps
U.S. lawmakers received classified briefings Thursday, with Republican Senator Tom Cotton stating the mission's goal wasn't uranium destruction but facility disruption. Democrat Mark Warner emphasized the need for ground inspections to verify results. Cross-party consensus acknowledged damage to Iran's infrastructure but highlighted challenges in quantifying setbacks. Further briefings for House representatives are scheduled Friday.
