Satellite imagery undermines Trump’s claim US attack ‘obliterated’ Iranian nuclear sites
What satellite imagery says about the success of US strikes on Iran
- Satellite pictures taken after a US military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities showed new craters and holes but did not provide definitive proof that heavily fortified underground facilities were breached.
- Donald Trump claimed the nuclear facilities were “completely and totally obliterated” and that the “biggest damage took place far below ground level”.
- The American military's 'Operation Midnight Hammer' targeted nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan using 'bunker buster' bombs and cruise missiles.
- Images from Maxar Technologies showed surface damage at Fordo and a 5.5m crater at Natanz, but no conclusive evidence of penetration into the deep underground structures.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency stated it is not in a position to assess underground damage at Fordo, and analysis suggests Iran may have filled tunnels at the Isfahan site before the strikes.