Trump repeats claim Iran nuclear facilities 'completely obliterated' as reports question extent of damage
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump lashed out on Sunday, June 22, against reports by several media outlets claiming that his attack on Iran's nuclear sites was not a complete success.
The news outlets reported that the nuclear sites struck by US bombs were damaged, but not completely destroyed, despite the POTUS insisting the facilities were "completely and totally obliterated", according to Mediaite.
Trump slams reports about damage caused by air strikes on Iran nuclear sites
Trump took to his Truth Social account on Sunday and wrote, "Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!"
He added, "The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame," referring to satellite images of the Fordow facility.
"The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!," the POTUS concluded.
Following the air strike in Iran, President Trump announced on Truth Social on Saturday, June 21, "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space."
He added, "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Meanwhile, senior Pentagon officials revealed on Sunday new details about the operation to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was the "largest B-2 operational strike in US history", and inflicted "extremely severe damage and destruction" to the targets, according to CBS News.
General Dan Caine, the chairman, said in a briefing at the Pentagon, "This was a highly classified mission with very few people in Washington knowing the timing or nature of this plan."
President Trump calls for regime change in Iran
Donald Trump floated the idea of a regime change in Iran after striking its nuclear sites over the weekend.
However, this is different to the opinions some officials in his administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed after the strikes.
The POTUS wrote on Truth Social, "It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!"
Interestingly, his aides, including Vice President JD Vance, dismissed the regime change idea, soon after the strikes on the Middle Eastern country's nuclear sites.
VP Vance said, per USA Today, "We don't want a regime change. We want to end the nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here."
Moreover, Secretary of State Marc Rubio said on CBS’ 'Face the Nation', "There are a lot of regimes around the world that we don’t like, okay? But in this particular case, what we are focused on is not the changing of the regime."
Even Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth clarified that the US strike on Iran “was not and has not been about regime change.” “The president authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program,” he added.
