Iranian officials on Sunday downplayed the extent of damage from US airstrikes on key nuclear facilities.
The Fordow uranium enrichment site, buried deep in the mountains near Qom, was a primary target of the strikes. Iranian lawmaker Manan Raisi, who represents Qom, claimed the damage was “quite superficial” and mostly limited to above-ground structures.
“Contrary to the claims of the lying president of the United States, Fordow has not been seriously damaged,” Raisi said, according to the state-affiliated Fars News Agency. “No nuclear radiation has been detected.”
A Fars correspondent near the site reported hearing explosions and seeing a brief fire but said the flames quickly died out. No casualties were reported.
Strikes, according to Trump, a 'historic military success'
US President Donald Trump, in a national address Saturday night, described the strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan as a “historic military success,” claiming the facilities were “completely obliterated.” US officials said more than 30 tons of bombs were dropped using B-2 stealth bombers.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded Sunday, writing on the X/Twitter platform that the attacks were “outrageous” and would not go unanswered.
“In accordance with the UN. Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people,” he said.
A senior Iranian official added, “Our science cannot be bombed,” insisting the country’s nuclear capabilities will recover and endure.
The Institute for Science and International Security reported early Monday morning that the American attack on the Fordow nuclear facility was aimed at the complex's ventilation shafts, which they claim are a weak point.
"We have high-resolution satellite imagery of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP). The imagery shows six penetration holes from GBU-57's," the NGO said.
"This set of holes is near the ventilation shaft of the underground complex, enabling an easier pathway for the MOPS to the deeply buried halls."
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.