Trump and US Military Officials Defend Iranian Nuclear Strike Amid Controversy

Donald Trump has reignited discussions over the impact of US strikes on an Iranian nuclear facility, after he claimed that the use of "bunker buster" bombs delivered a significant blow to their nuclear capabilities. In a recent leaked intelligence report, it was suggested that the airstrikes might have only delayed Iran's nuclear ambitions by a matter of months. In light of this, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine held a press briefing where they defended the operation, with Trump suggesting that questioning his version of events was not only unpatriotic but also emotionally taxing for the pilots involved in the strikes.

During the press briefing, Hegseth characterized the airstrike as "historically successful" and emphasized that the weapons had been developed over a period of 15 years, remarking that they were precise in hitting their intended targets. Following their statements, Trump reinforced his belief that Iran had not been able to remove nuclear materials from the sites before the US attack, stating that such actions were impractical. He indicated that moving such materials would have been too risky and logistically challenging.

Commentary on satellite images showing trucks at the nuclear site sparked rumors that these could be contractor vehicles, with some speculating that personnel at the facility worked swiftly to seal openings before the expected strikes. In response to media inquiries, General Caine provided visuals of the weapon's impact, noting that the bomblets did not create typical craters as they functioned by penetrating deep into the ground before detonating. He affirmed that all weapons used were accurate, hitting their designated spots in the Fordow facility as planned.

The conference outlined the meticulous preparation that went into the bombings, although the officials did not disclose how significantly the strikes hindered Iran's nuclear projects. Caine stated that the intelligence community would ultimately assess the operation's success, while elaborating on the accuracy of the strikes and the operational details. The timeline regarding Iran's potential recovery from the assault, including whether they succeeded in relocating enriched uranium beforehand, remained unclear.

Hegseth expressed skepticism regarding the possibility that Iran had moved any nuclear materials, suggesting that all intelligence reviewed confirmed their original locations. He criticized the media for what he called "irresponsible reporting" based on incomplete intelligence and hinted that anyone wishing to grasp the situation at Fordow should do so with more thorough investigation.