Middle East Iran Acknowledges Major Damage to Nuclear Facilities Amid Strained Diplomacy

[BLMFem]

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

You seemed to have ignored the bit about their ability or lack thereof to hide developing nukes which will now be years down the line. Years not months.

Possibly, but not confirmed.

[Bkk Brian]

48 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

Yes, they are pretty much defenseless, so there is no way Iran would have said anything other than what is stated in the OP, whatever the state of their nuclear program.

Agree?

Its not just Iran saying so though is it. Its also confirmed by the Head of IAEA which is also in the updated OP

[Social Media]

No more links to the previous leaked preliminary report that has since been debunked, there are previous topics on that already. The topics here are:

 

Iran Acknowledges Major Damage to Nuclear Facilities Amid Strained Diplomacy

&

IAEA Chief Confirms Devastating Blow to Iranian Nuclear Facility Following U.S. Strike

 

 

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its not just Iran saying so though is it. Its also confirmed by the Head of IAEA which is also in the updated OP

And Israel and the CIA. 

[dinsdale]

As I said it would be pretty quiet on here and it is. Trump's had a win on this one. The initial story run by CNN and latched onto with a fever by the loony left on here has been well and truly debunked and has left them only with defections or silence. Fact of the matter is this attack by the US that was greenlighted by Trump brought an end to the 12 day war saving lives and has set back Iran's nuclear weapons production by years (not months). It's also sent a very big message globally that when Trump says "Peace Through Strength" he means it. This is fact. This is history. Let's hope the ceasefire holds.

[AustinRacing]

14 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Could be a bluff 😉

Quite possible. Remove excuses for future bombing. Furthermore some say they have other sites unknown to international community. And by closing the door to scrutiny they can do whatever they want as did North Korea. Well done BIBI/DJT🤔

[cme]

17 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This must be fake news.....well according to all those on the previous threads that believed the initial CNN story based on selective pieces of a leaked classified document which was of low confidence. My guess is we're not going to be hearing too much from the psychotic Trump haters on this thread. 

Who knows what Fake news is today? I would be in Iran's interest to say the damage was massive in the hope that the US may sit back and think 'job done'.

[JemJem]

19 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Could be a bluff 😉

 

I agree. I mean, I think there is at least 50 percent chance that it is some kind of bluff.

[jimmybcool]

6 hours ago, cme said:

Who knows what Fake news is today? I would be in Iran's interest to say the damage was massive in the hope that the US may sit back and think 'job done'.

 

Which is why Israel should demand inspections before ending the war.  The entire point was to end Irans nuclear weapons development.  

[Social Media]

UPDATE:

 

After the Bombing: IAEA Chief Calls for Urgent Diplomacy with Iran Amid Nuclear Uncertainty

 

After the Bombing: IAEA Chief Calls for Urgent Diplomacy with Iran Amid Nuclear Uncertainty

 

In a wide-ranging interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke candidly about the severe damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure following U.S. and Israeli strikes—and the urgent need for diplomacy to prevent a deeper crisis.

 

“It’s clear that what happened in particular in Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan… has destroyed to an important degree” Iran’s capabilities in uranium treatment, conversion, and enrichment, Grossi told Margaret Brennan. While some infrastructure remains, he described the setback to Iran’s program as “very serious,” echoing the Iranian foreign minister’s own characterization of the situation.

 

The IAEA, Grossi said, will eventually need to return to Iran—not to assess damage, but to re-establish oversight of nuclear materials and activities. “Our job is… to re-establish the knowledge of the activities that take place there, and the access to the material, which is very, very important.”

 

Diplomatic efforts may pave the way. Grossi confirmed he remains in contact with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, backing his push for renewed negotiations. If diplomacy succeeds, he noted, “there could be an agreement on certain restrictions. And of course, who is going to verify that is the IAEA.”

 

Yet cooperation is far from guaranteed. Iran’s parliament recently passed a law aiming to suspend engagement with IAEA inspectors, and the foreign minister said there are no plans to admit Grossi personally into the country. Grossi remains cautiously hopeful. “You cannot invoke an internal law not to abide with an international treaty,” he said, referring to Iran’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. “Iran is not saying that at the moment, and I think this is constructive.”

 

Still, significant questions remain unresolved—particularly about Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and its potential movement before the strikes. “We presume… that when they announce they are going to be taking protective measures, this could be part of it,” Grossi said. “But, as I said, we don’t know where this material could be.”

 

Pressed on whether Iran could still rush toward developing a nuclear weapon, Grossi urged caution. “We don’t want to be alarmists… but we need to be in a position to ascertain, to confirm what is there, and where is it and what happened.” He emphasized that while some facilities may be destroyed, “the knowledge is there. The industrial capacity is there. Iran is a very sophisticated country in terms of nuclear technology.”

 

Prior to the attacks, the IAEA still had inspectors operating in some Iranian facilities. Satellite images had shown trucks moving near Fordo, suggesting equipment or materials might have been relocated. But Grossi said such protective actions are permissible—if Iran informs the IAEA, which did not happen due to the speed of events. “Now is the time to reconnect and to talk,” he insisted.

Responding to accusations from Iranian officials that his reports provoked the attacks, Grossi defended the agency’s neutrality.

 

“Who can believe that this conflict happened because of a report of the IAEA?” he asked. “Maybe it’s easier to criticize an international organization… but it’s not reasonable.”

 

With various intelligence agencies offering conflicting timelines on Iran’s ability to rebuild, Grossi concluded, “There has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage. Iran has the capacities… if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.” They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium.

 

Despite the destruction and mistrust, Grossi sees a chance for diplomacy. “This is an opportunity. We do have an opportunity now,” he said. “We have to go back to the table and have a technically sound solution… Otherwise, this will come hit us again.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CBS  2025-06-29