So, sorry, former President Donald Trump, but these recent U.S. bombing raids are not going to put an end to Iran’s alleged nuclear pursuits. This time, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth serves up his skepticism too. These conversations began after a Pentagon report was leaked to the press, assessing the results of the strikes as only a temporary setback for Iran’s nuclear program.
According to a leaked DIA assessment, Iran’s nuclear program has received a serious blow. This delay would be only a handful of months. Despite this, Hegseth characterized the damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities as “moderate to severe,” suggesting some impact but not as comprehensive as initially anticipated.
Iran’s nuclear program runs deep and wide, with key facilities like Fordow and Natanz. Yet these facilities continue to be housed, as noted in the DIA report. Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, from its centrifuges to its facilities, could all be restarted in a matter of months. This has alarmed nuclear experts as to the damage this does to the cause of global nonproliferation.
He predicted that the extensive destruction from the massive bunker-buster bombs used on the Fordow and Natanz sites would “come close” to the atomic bomb destruction on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“It was very severe. There was obliteration.” – Donald Trump
Iran’s Majles (parliament) is preparing to pass a bill that would open the door for its departure from the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Under this treaty, Iran is obligated not to pursue nuclear weapons development. It just cops, too, to allow increased monitoring and verification of its nuclear activities.
In retaliation for the airstrikes, Iran has apparently made the decision to immediately remove all remaining International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors from its soil. This strategic move should sound alarms regarding transparency in Iran’s nuclear activities. The looming NPT exit would be a serious blow to both regional and international peace and security.
Even now, Israeli military officials are reportedly grappling with the ramifications of their bombing campaign. This was the message from one of the unit’s founders, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, whose operations have achieved outcomes beyond expectations.
“We pushed them years backward.” – Brig Gen Effie Defrin
They have tunneled a larger facility beneath a mountain. This effort was years in the making, just south of the original Natanz location. The presence of this facility should deepen the alarm about Iran’s nuclear aims and its capacity to evade international scrutiny.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions among world leaders regarding strategies to contain Iran’s nuclear developments and maintain regional security. As such, tensions continue to rise, and the broader impacts of all of these military interventions on global nonproliferation efforts remain troubling.