President Donald Trump has once again threatened to destroy Iran’s nuclear assets, claiming that last month’s U.S. airstrikes already “completely obliterated” the country’s key nuclear facilities.
On Saturday, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, stating, “All three nuclear facilities in Iran are completely ruined and/or destroyed. It would take years to restore them to operational status.”
His comments came just hours after an Iranian parliamentary official, Ebrahim Rezaei, warned that Tehran might pull out of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Rezaei, who represents Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the government is preparing to decide whether to quit the treaty and could begin enriching uranium beyond the current 60% level if U.S. sanctions continue to increase.
“In light of recent developments, we will take an appropriate decision,” Rezaei said, noting that any final decision will involve coordination with the Iranian parliament.
Trump’s remarks appeared to respond directly to a recent U.S. intelligence assessment that suggested only one of Iran’s nuclear sites, Fordow, was seriously damaged in the June 21 airstrikes. The report indicated that Iran’s other two major nuclear sites—Natanz and Isfahan—suffered only minor damage.
However, the White House and the Department of Defense have publicly backed Trump’s statements, insisting the strikes achieved their full objective. Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell said, “The credibility of the Fake News Media is similar to that of the current state of the Iranian nuclear facilities: destroyed, in the dirt, and will take years to recover.”
The tensions follow the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which further destabilized the region. Analysts warn that the destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites could push Tehran closer to developing nuclear weapons, as diplomatic talks with the U.S. and its allies were ongoing when the military strikes occurred.
Iran’s potential exit from the NPT would mark a significant shift in global nuclear policy and could escalate the already tense relationship between Tehran and Washington.
