Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Jul 11: A month after the United States launched a major bombing campaign on three nuclear sites in Iran, questions continue to swirl over the extent of the damage caused by “Operation Midnight Hammer,” as both American and international assessments cast doubt on President Donald Trump’s claims of "total obliteration."

While Trump and the White House maintain that the strike wiped out Iran’s nuclear capabilities, some US intelligence agencies and international nuclear watchdogs have presented a more cautious view. “As President Trump has said many times, Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities. The entire world is safer thanks to his decisive leadership,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly reiterated.

However, a senior Israeli official offered a more nuanced perspective during a briefing on Wednesday, stating that while the nuclear programme was set back by at least two years, much of the enriched uranium remains buried underground—particularly at the Isfahan facility. The official warned that any Iranian attempt to retrieve the material would be detectable and likely trigger fresh Israeli strikes.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) echoed this caution. Director General Rafael Grossi told CBS, “The facilities were destroyed to an important degree, but parts are still standing. One cannot claim that everything has disappeared.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian also weighed in during an interview with Tucker Carlson, admitting that the sites were “severely damaged,” but noted that Iran has no current access to them. “A full assessment is impossible at this stage,” he said.

Ahead of the strikes, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended Tehran’s uranium enrichment programme, calling it a peaceful, sovereign right. “It’s a question of national pride and dignity,” he asserted.

While tensions remain high, the latest reports suggest a more complex reality on the ground than the bold claims of total destruction—keeping Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the region’s fragile stability in sharp global focus.