Iran has rejected US-Israeli claims that air-strikes destroyed key elements of its nuclear programme

Iran has rejected U.S.-Israeli claims that overnight air-strikes destroyed key elements of its nuclear programme, insisting that all enriched-uranium stockpiles were moved to undisclosed bunkers months ago and remain “fully under our control”.

In a post on the X account @IranReply, which routinely echoes official government messaging, Tehran declared that “the enemy is under the delusion that it has damaged our nuclear installations — but we had already uncovered its conspiracies back in March”. The statement added that “every strike is calculated, and every blow is delivered with faith”, warning that Iran’s response would be one “that history will remember” atticanews.gr.

The defiant message came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that B-2 bombers and other aircraft had “completely and fully obliterated” the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in a dramatic expansion of Washington’s role in Israel’s two-week-old war with Iran apnews.com. Israel had hit many of the same facilities in the preceding days but acknowledged that only American bunker-buster munitions could penetrate Fordow’s heavily fortified mountain complex.

A Guardian live update quoted International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials as saying the strikes posed only “limited radioactive risk”, while confirming significant structural damage at the above-ground portions of Natanz theguardian.com. The IAEA, which has not inspected the sites since the bombardment, has urged all parties to avoid further attacks on nuclear infrastructure.

Iran’s latest statement claims that “strategic materials” were dispersed to secure locations in March, implying advance knowledge of Israeli or U.S. planning. Western intelligence officials have not commented publicly on that assertion, but satellite imagery reviewed by independent analysts shows no immediate signs of large-scale contamination around Fordow or Natanz.

Regional fallout

• Missile exchanges: Within minutes of Trump’s televised address, Iran fired more than 40 short-range missiles at Israeli air-bases near Eilat and Hatzerim, injuring at least 14 people, according to Israel’s health ministry. Israel responded with further air-strikes on IRGC command posts around Tabriz and Kermānshāh.

• Diplomatic reactions: France, the UK and Qatar have urged an emergency UN Security Council session, while Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, backing Iran’s right to “self-defence”.

• Oil markets: Brent crude rose above USD 104 a barrel on fears of shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

What happens next?

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is scheduled to meet later tonight. Analysts say Tehran could intensify asymmetric attacks through regional proxies or target U.S. assets in the Gulf rather than launch immediate strikes on American soil. “They will want a response that is painful but stops short of giving Washington a pretext for a wider war,” said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has ordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group deeper into the Arabian Gulf and placed additional Patriot missile batteries on alert in Kuwait and Qatar.

With rhetoric hardening on all sides and no sign of back-channel diplomacy, the region faces its most dangerous nuclear-related standoff since the 2015 JCPOA talks broke down.