jerrymahoney

(as above) Karoline Leavitt told CNN: Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”

Exclusive: Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites, sources say Updated 4:54 PM EDT, Tue June 24, 2025 The US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities last weekend did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early US intelligence assessment that was described by four people briefed on it. The assessment, which has not been previously reported, was produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon’s intelligence arm. It is based on a battle damage assessment conducted by US Central Command in the aftermath of the US strikes, one of the sources said. But the early findings are at odds with President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said on Sunday that Iran’s nuclear ambitions “have been obliterated.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement: Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.” https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/24/politics/intel-assessment-us-strikes-iran-nuclear-sites

From the AP link above: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had agreed to a bilateral ceasefire with Iran in coordination with Trump. Netanyahu said that he had reported to Israel’s security cabinet Monday night that Israel had achieved all of its war goals in the 12-day operation against Iran, including removing the threat of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Israel also damaged Iran’s military leadership and several government sites and achieved control over Tehran’s skies, Netanyahu said. ________________ Sa’ar claims Iran op added 2-3 years to time it would take Tehran to get nuclear bomb Foreign minister says regime change not one of Israel’s war aims, ‘for now, at least,’ and rejects negotiations with Islamic Republic: ‘All efforts at diplomacy have failed’ 21 June 2025, 3:06 pm Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the IDF has set back by at least two years Tehran’s ability to attain nuclear arms, and hinted that Israel could make regime change in Iran an official aim of the war. “According to the assessment we hear, we already delayed for at least two or three years the possibility for them to have a nuclear bomb,” Sa’ar told German newspaper Bild in an interview published and broadcast on Saturday. https://www.timesofisrael.com/saar-iran-op-added-2-3-years-to-time-it-would-take-tehran-to-attain-nuclear-bomb/ NB so Israel had obtained a 2-3 year halt to Iran's attaining nuclear arms BEFORE the US bombing.

7 min ago Iranian foreign minister says there's currently no agreement on a ceasefire with Israel Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there was currently no ceasefire agreement with Israel, but said Iran would halt its military response if Israel stopped its strikes on Iran by 4 a.m. local time there. “As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around,” Araghchi said in a post on X. “As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.” https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-us-strikes-06-23-25-intl-hnk

From NYTimes 4hours ago: We’ve been waiting to hear from President Trump about Iran’s attack on the US base in Qatar, but the president’s first social media post since the strikes is a complaint about media skepticism of his statement that Iran’s nuclear sites were “totally obliterated.” Trump criticized CNN, ABC and NBC, calling them “sleazebags.” OK. Try semi-obliterated.

Thanks. I was worried.

On 29 June 2008, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Ali Jafari, said that if either Israel or the United States attacked Iran, it would seal off the Strait of Hormuz to wreak havoc in the oil markets. This followed more ambiguous threats from Iran's oil minister and other government officials that an attack on Iran would result in turmoil in the world's oil supply. Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, commander of the U.S. 5th Fleet stationed in Bahrain across the Persian Gulf from Iran, warned that such Iranian action would be considered an act of war, and the U.S. would not allow Iran to hold hostage nearly a third of the world's oil supply. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz

IAEA oversight provided for by the 2015 deal. That means the agency no longer knows how many centrifuges Iran has at undeclared locations. The Israeli and now U.S. strikes have already raised fears among diplomats and other officials, however, that Iran will use those centrifuges to set up a secret enrichment site, since one could be built inside a relatively small and inconspicuous building like a warehouse. "It is quite possible that there are enrichment sites that we don't know about. Iran is a big country," a Western official said, while adding that Iran could also choose to bide its time. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-strikes-iran-nuclear-sites-are-real-life-test-hard-powers-limits-2025-06-22/

Iran controls the northern side of the strait, which runs along its border, and Oman and the United Arab Emirates control the southern side. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/strait-of-hormuz-iran-oil-trade-route-what-to-know/

"Operation Midnight Hammer" was known only to a small number of people in Washington and at the U.S. military's headquarters for Middle East operations in Tampa, Florida. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-strikes-against-iran-nuclear-facilities-incredible-overwhelming-success-2025-06-22/

I have noted those. Thank you. And I also look at Tampa where from the brains of this operations have been in planning for years.

Thank you. I'm so relieved. I have no expertise whatsoever in this area. I just start with Trump saying: Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. and from there try to find out what REALLY happened. Maybe there will be press conference soon where Karoline Leavitt can say that Iran's weapons facilities have been INCREDIBLY obliterated.

Well it's very comforting to know that you're sure.

(As posted above) A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the near weapons-grade 60% highly enriched uranium had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack. I don't know. Ask him.

So maybe is the already processed uranium.

'UNUSUAL ACTIVITY' Several experts also cautioned that Iran likely moved a stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium out of Fordow before the strike early Sunday morning and could be hiding it and other nuclear components in locations unknown to Israel, the U.S. and U.N. nuclear inspectors. They noted satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showing "unusual activity" at Fordow on Thursday and Friday, with a long line of vehicles waiting outside an entrance of the facility. A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday most of the near weapons-grade 60% highly enriched uranium had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack. "I don't think you can with great confidence do anything but set back their nuclear program by maybe a few years," said Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. "There's almost certainly facilities that we don't know about. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/satellite-images-indicate-severe-damage-fordow-doubts-remain-2025-06-22/

And I have pointed out that some of the contention -- valid or not -- as to the constitutionality of Trump's actions comes from the Republican side as well. However I will note that in many instances the above may be written as: The POTUS can deploy a military action in the instance that there is a(n) IMMINENT threat to the US,

Trump's team launches group to unseat GOP Rep. Thomas Massie Trump has heavily criticized Massie, of Kentucky, who has opposed his strikes on Iran and his "big, beautiful bill" in Congress. Massie also partnered with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., last week to introduce a war powers resolution meant to “prohibit involvement in Iran.” “The Constitution does not permit the executive branch to unilaterally commit an act of war against a sovereign nation that hasn’t attacked the United States,” Massie said of the resolution in a statement at the time. After the strikes in Iran on Saturday, Massie dug into Trump’s decision, writing on social media, “This is not Constitutional.” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-thomas-massie-criticism-us-strikes-iran-kentucky-maga-rcna214387

Hegseth defers to general on Pentagon’s plans for Iran U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Erik Kurilla is overruling other top Pentagon officials. 06/18/2025 05:55 AM EDT Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given an unusual level of authority to a single general in the latest Middle East crisis — an Iran hawk who is pushing for a strong military response against the country. U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Erik Kurilla has played an outsized role in the escalating clashes between Tehran and Israel, with officials noting nearly all his requests have been approved, from more aircraft carriers to fighter planes in the region. The pugnacious general, who is known as “The Gorilla,” is overruling other top Pentagon officials and playing a quiet but decisive role in the country’s next steps on Iran, according to a former and current defense official, a diplomat, and a person familiar with the dynamic. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/17/hegseth-erik-kurilla-iran-pentagon-response-00411007 NB Chairman Joint Chiefs Caine was confirmed by the Senate for the job 11 April, 2025 and sworn in 14 April, 2025 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Caine

Photo of trucks leaving Fordo 19 JUN pre-strike The images of the secretive plant, which were collected on Thursday and Friday, depict truck and vehicle activity near to the entrance of the underground military complex. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/22/satellite-images-show-activity-at-irans-fordo-before-us-air-strikes.html

(Hegseth) continued, “Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran’s nuclear program, and none could until President Trump. The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this president speaks, the world should listen.” https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/22/politics/pete-hegseth-dan-caine-iran-strike B-2 Strikes On Iran: What We Know About Operation Midnight Hammer (Updated) The mission that has been in contingency planning and rehearsal for many years included assets from below the waves to space. https://www.twz.com/air/b-2-strikes-on-iran-what-we-know-about-operation-midnight-hammer REDUX:: On 10 June 2025, during the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on its nuclear program, (Western Command Dir., Tampa) Kurilla said at a congressional hearing that he prepared a "wide range" of military options for President Donald Trump if negotiations fail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kurilla

Adapted from NY Times: But neither Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth nor Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, could immediately say whether Iran still retained the ability to make a nuclear weapon. Mr. Hegseth repeated President Trump’s assertion from the previous night that the nuclear sites had been “obliterated.” General Caine did not.

NYTimes: Strike details: A U.S. official said that six B-2 bombers dropped a dozen 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs on the Fordo nuclear site, which lies deep underground, and Navy submarines fired 30 TLAM cruise missiles at the Natanz and Isfahan sites. One B-2 also dropped two bunker busters on Natanz, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. Still on the QT and hush-hush.

From CBS News: Experts have believed the best chance at destroying the facility lies with the U.S.-produced "bunker-buster" bomb known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP — a bomb so heavy that it could only be dropped by an American B-2 bomber. A source familiar with the operation and a senior Defense Department official confirmed that the MOP was used in the strikes, with two MOPs used per target. However, a senior Defense Department official later told CBS News that three B-2s were used to strike Fordo, with each of those B-2s armed with 2 MOPs. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-launches-strikes-iranian-nuclear-facilities-trump-says/

Until Karoline Leavitt says the Bunker busters were used, it isn't official.