Did the US break the Nuclear program in Iran?
The Nuclear Policy Specialist David Albright explained how his organization was monitored for the damage to nuclear sites that followed us and the strikes of Israel
The US Donald Trump president with members of his cabinet following strikes in Iran.
Carlos Barria / Pool / AFP by Getty
Many people in the world awaken the news on 22 June that the United States bombed the nuclear sites of Iran, the purpose of destroying the nation’s ability to produce nuclear weapons. Topped with raids Uranium-enricichment facilities in Iran In Fordw and Natanz, and the nuclear research center in Isfahan, using stealth bombs to Drop widely ‘bunker-busters’and cruise missiles.
Although Iran says the nuclear program for peaceful goals, experts have long been investigated that Iran is about to make nuclear nuclear weapons if it is chosen to do so. US attacks followed a campaign in Israeli bombing, which previously executed additional attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. On June 23, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that “Very important damage is expected to occur” on the site at underground fordlow.
Researchers in academic institutions and tanks also examine the potential impact on attacks on Iranian nuclear capabilities. The analysts say attacks may have set the nuclear program, but not permanently. In particular, Iran can transfer stockpiles more highly uranium, and maybe some enrichment centrifngges, somehow. David Albright, a Nuclear Policy and Institute Presidential Policy for Science and International Security in Washington DC, talking Nature about what researchers know.
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How do you evaluate the impact of bombings in Iran nuclear capabilities?
There are no many researchers who can evaluate the impact of bombings. We have decades experience in the Nuclear program of Iran, so we know their facilities and activities that are very good. And we have a lot of satellite imagery access – that we need to buy. We try to buy every day. And we use the analysts with decades of analyzing experiences in these images. We also have many contacts with governments, and we have companions with contacts with governments.

Maxar Satellite Imagery shows a lot of damage to the Fordow underground complex. Many large craters appear in the entire ridge, and a wide area is covered with ash-blue ash, which is in accordance with airstrike aftermath.
Satellite image (C) 2025 Maxar technologies.
Many damage is on top, so it is a question knowing what the building is doing (in terms of its paper in the nuclear program). We trust our information repository about sites attacked. So it’s straightforward straight.
Obviously, the places underground are more likely to have problems. When we checked Israel’s bombing in Natanz, three days ago I saw a small crator above the bottom under the underground. I can work and link it to a type of firearms poketrator known to have Israel. It will leave a small crater when it comes in, and the damage will be underground. It is pumped to the United States with a more powerful pokerator on the ground. So the damage is probably greater.
How and when can we know that the damage size is sure?
As nuclear experts, we would like to see this done by diplomatic agreements, where Iran allowed intrusive inspections of its program. If that doesn’t happen, then it is the job of us and Israel’s intelligence to evaluate the damage. They are watching communication intercepts, or seek to recruit people inside to reveal information.
Are there found radioactive materials outside Natanz, Esfahan and Fordlow when attacks have been successful?
So far, IAEA reports no such leak. And it appears that Iran moves improved uranium stockpiles in days before bombing. The United States said the target of its bombing is facilities, so they understand that they do not get in nuclear material.
Can shockwaves damage facilities to develop even if there is no direct hit?
Shockwaves can cause great damage. They pressed the Senrifngges, and if they flashed, it could cause the rotor inside the crash of the wall. Someone will wonder what is destroyed without further information. But the idea of bombing the US is that Israel may not have been done harm.
Can these worst environmental hazards if Bush’s Bushehr nuclear on the Power Plant in Iran?
Israel say it does not attack nuclear reactors. And Israel negotiated with Russia not to attack Russians who acted in Bushehr. But yes, it can be harmful. Fristade’s fristad products gathered within a reactor are more dangerous than uranium itself. So you don’t want to have a nuclear reactor involved in a war.
This article has been copied with permission and first published On June 23, 2025.