Trump Warns of Future Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Site Debate; US Claims Facilities ‘Wiped Out’

US President Donald Trump today refused to rule out future American strikes on Iran should the nation attempt to rebuild its nuclear facilities. During the NATO Summit in The Hague, when questioned about potential strikes if Iran resumes reconstruction, Trump responded with a terse “Sure,” signaling a firm stance from Washington following recent military actions. This declaration comes amidst conflicting assessments regarding the effectiveness of prior US airstrikes.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the other hand, asserted that Iranian nuclear facilities, specifically mentioning Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, have been “wiped out” and “can’t be found on the map” after they were targeted by B-2 bombers on Saturday. However, a preliminary US intelligence assessment has indicated that these airstrikes did not destroy Iran’s nuclear capability, only setting it back by a few months. When pressed on these intelligence reports, President Trump dismissed them, stating, “they really don’t know.”

The recent conflict erupted on June 13 when Israel launched surprise air attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders. Iran retaliated with missile barrages targeting Israeli military sites and cities. The 12-day conflict saw the US bomb three of Iran’s nuclear sites on Saturday.

Despite claims that Tehran had moved its enriched uranium stockpile before these strikes, President Trump has denied this. Following the subterranean bombings with bunker buster bombs, Iran responded by firing missiles at a US military base in Qatar, though Trump revealed Tehran had informed them prior to the attack, resulting in no reported casualties.

President Trump brokered a ceasefire to end the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which appeared to be holding early Wednesday. Both nations have committed to honoring the truce provided the other adheres to it, despite Trump’s earlier criticism of perceived early violations by both sides.