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‘Fordow nuclear site seriously, heavily damaged’: Iran minister acknowledges damage at nuclear site in US bombing

US on June 22 joined Israel’s offensive against Iran and launched operation “Midnight Hammer” to target three nuclear facilities of Iran, namely Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi listens to speeches as he attends the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting, in Istanbul. (AP Photo)

First time acknowledging the impact of the US strike on Iran’s key Fordow nuclear site, Tehran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the American bombing has “seriously and heavily damaged” the nuclear facility, CBS News reported.

During an interview with CBS News broadcast on Tuesday, Araghchi said “No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged.”

However, a Washington Post report quoting four people familiar with classified intelligence circulating within the US government, stated that intercepted Iranian communications downplayed the damage caused by the American strikes on three key nuclear sites of Iran.

FM @araghchi in an interview with CBS:

The damage inflicted on the #Fordow nuclear site has been extensive and very serious.#Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful; we have no intention of moving toward nuclear weapons. pic.twitter.com/SNOx6CkdtJ

— Iran’s Today (@Iran) July 2, 2025

Detailing the Iranian report on strikes, Araghchi said “The Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran… is currently undertaking evaluation and assessment, the report of which will be submitted to the government.”

US President Donald Trump, while addressing the nation after the American military bombed Tehran’s nuclear facilities, said the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program. Though the US officials acknowledged last weekend that it’ll take time to form a complete assessment of the damage caused by the American military strikes.

The United States on June 22 joined Israel’s offensive against Iran and launched operation “Midnight Hammer” to target three nuclear facilities of Iran, namely Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan and the operation involved 125 US military aircraft, including seven B-2 Stealth bombers.

About two dozen cruise missiles were also launched at the Isfahan nuclear site from a submarine by the US military. One of the major strikes by the United States was on Fordow nuclear enrichment facility buried deep below a mountain outside Tehran, and is considered vital to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. At least 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) were dropped at the Fordow site.

After the strikes, Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Qatar and the 12-day conflict between the two warring nations came to a pause on June 24.

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