According to a joint report by The New York Times, quoting both U.S. and Israeli sources, the Fordow nuclear facility—a heavily fortified Iranian site—was not completely destroyed in the American airstrike carried out early Sunday. The report also revealed that Tehran had already moved enriched uranium out of the facility prior to the attack.
A U.S. official told the newspaper that while 12 bunker-buster bombs were dropped on the site, “they were not enough to destroy Fordow,” although they did cause significant damage.
Israeli officials echoed that view, stating their belief that Fordow “suffered serious damage but was not totally demolished.” The same officials claimed that Iran appears to have relocated equipment and enriched uranium from the site before the strike.
Conflicting Reports and Preemptive Measures
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News that it could take days before it’s known whether Iran had removed any nuclear material before the airstrikes. His statement added further ambiguity to a rapidly evolving situation.
Earlier in the day, Reuters cited an Iranian source confirming that most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow had indeed been transferred to an undisclosed location prior to the U.S. operation. The source also said that the number of personnel at the facility had been reduced to a minimum, suggesting Iran anticipated the strike.
Satellite Imagery Reveals Suspicious Activity
In a related investigation, The Washington Post reported that satellite images from June 19 showed unusual truck and vehicle activity at the Fordow site two days before the U.S. strike. The imagery reportedly captured a large convoy of trucks moving northwest from the facility and others gathering near its entrance.
The newspaper noted that at least 16 trucks were observed along the main road leading to an underground military complex, indicating the possibility of preemptive evacuation or equipment relocation by Iranian authorities.
Israel’s War on Iran Escalates
Since June 13, Israel has been conducting a sustained military campaign against Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, military and civilian infrastructure, and high-ranking officials. These included the assassination of IRGC commanders, the Chief of Staff, and prominent nuclear scientists.
In response, Iran launched waves of missile strikes into Israeli territory, causing unprecedented destruction across several Israeli cities. The scale and depth of the Iranian retaliation marked a historic shift in the balance of deterrence in the region.
Revolutionary Guard Vows Unconventional Response
Following the American airstrikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a firm warning, pledging to retaliate against the U.S. using what it termed “options outside the calculations“—a signal that Iran may adopt unpredictable, asymmetric tactics in future responses.
This latest episode adds another layer to the unfolding regional conflict, intensifying questions around nuclear diplomacy, military escalation, and the increasingly blurred line between Israeli and American operations.
