Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that U.S. strikes had successfully destroyed a facility critical to the production of nuclear weapons in Iran, countering a less optimistic U.S. intelligence report.
During a press briefing, President Trump and Secretary Rubio presented their most comprehensive argument to date regarding the impact of the American attack on Iran’s nuclear capabilities. They disputed findings from a U.S. intelligence report and comments from international nuclear inspectors.
While President Trump reiterated his claims that the nuclear facilities were “obliterated,” Secretary Rubio provided a more detailed rationale for believing that Iran's nuclear ambitions had been significantly hindered for years, contrary to the preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency, which suggested only a temporary setback.
Rubio emphasized the destruction of a “conversion facility” in Isfahan, essential for converting nuclear fuel into a form usable for weapon manufacturing. This facility had previously been responsible for converting enriched uranium gas into solid materials and metal suitable for nuclear warheads.
Reports indicated that Israel had targeted this facility, along with an associated laboratory. Independent analysts have assessed that the plant sustained severe damage. Rubio stated, “You can’t do a nuclear weapon without a conversion facility,” adding that the facility was now unrecognizable on maps, having been completely destroyed.
While satellite images show significant destruction, the extent of the damage will not be fully understood until international nuclear inspectors can access the site. The Defense Intelligence Agency report mainly focused on the Fordo plant, a deeply buried facility that produces near-bomb-grade fuel.
The U.S. employed powerful “bunker buster” bombs in the attack, which reportedly sealed off the entrances to Fordo but did not cause its collapse, allowing for the possibility of future excavation by Iran. Officials noted that Iran likely retains much of its enriched uranium and may possess undisclosed facilities for further processing.
International experts concur that the damage to the conversion facility has created a significant bottleneck in Iran's nuclear weapons development, estimating that reconstruction could take years, assuming no secret facilities have been established.
The U.S. strikes targeted both enrichment centers at Natanz and Fordo, as well as facilities in Isfahan capable of converting nuclear material into weapons. The objective was to disrupt both aspects of the nuclear production chain to delay Iran's progress.
A separate assessment from the Institute for Science and International Security concluded that the attacks had effectively dismantled Iran's centrifuge enrichment program, predicting a prolonged period before Iran could regain its previous capabilities. However, the report also noted that Iran still possesses stocks of near-bomb-grade uranium and uninstalled centrifuges, with some materials potentially relocated to undisclosed sites.
President Trump claimed that Iran had essentially abandoned its nuclear ambitions, asserting they were no longer considering nuclear enrichment, although he did not provide supporting evidence. In contrast, Rubio adopted a more cautious stance, acknowledging that while facilities can be rebuilt, their locations are now known, providing the U.S. with options should Iran attempt to reconstruct them.
Rubio also criticized the leaks of the Defense Intelligence Agency report by staffers and indicated that the FBI had been requested to investigate the matter.