Also at stake are Trump’s next steps in the Middle East, where diplomatic efforts could be required to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear programme.
Iran maintains that its atomic ambitions are for peaceful purposes, while US and Israeli leaders have described the country’s nuclear programme as the precursor to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
One of the targets of the US attack was Fordo, where nuclear infrastructure is buried deep underground. The Israeli commission said in a statement that the bombing “rendered the enrichment facility inoperable.” The statement was distributed by the White House and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other parts of Iran’s military nuclear programme, have “set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years,” the statement said.
In addition, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Al Jazeera that there was significant damage from US bombers.
“Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure,” he said.
The episode has triggered some of Trump’s longstanding vendettas against leaks and intelligence officials, who he has often viewed as a part of a “deep state” dedicated to undermining his agenda. He also lashed out at media outlets that reported on the classified assessment, describing them as “scum” and “disgusting.” Trump said questioning the effectiveness of the strikes was disrespectful to the military, which flew stealth bombers halfway around the world to attack the nuclear facilities with weapons designed to penetrate deep underground.
The reports, he said, were “very unfair to the pilots, who risked their lives for our country.” One critical question is whether enriched uranium, which could be developed into fuel for a nuclear bomb, was moved out of facilities before the US strikes.
“I believe they didn’t have a chance to get anything out, because we acted fast,” Trump said. He added that “it’s very hard to move that kind of material, and very dangerous.” Classified briefings for lawmakers, originally scheduled for Tuesday, are now expected to take place on Thursday and Friday. (AP) NPK NPK