Iran Nuclear Strikes: Only One Facility Heavily Damaged, Trump Rejected Wider Air Operation July 17, 2025 W

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📰 Iran Nuclear Strikes: Only One Facility Heavily Damaged, Trump Rejected Wider Air Operation
🗓️ July 17, 2025
📍 Washington, D.C.

📄A new internal U.S. government assessment reveals that only one of the three Iranian nuclear facilities targeted in the June 21 airstrikes was seriously damaged, contradicting earlier claims by President Donald Trump that all sites were “completely destroyed.”

According to a report by NBC News, which cited current and former U.S. officials, the attack—codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer”—significantly disrupted operations at only one site. The other two facilities sustained only minor damage, raising concerns about Iran’s ability to resume uranium enrichment within months.

The internal review has reportedly been shared with members of Congress, the Pentagon, and key allies. Central Command (CENTCOM) had drawn up contingency plans for a broader multi-week air campaign that would strike three additional facilities beyond those hit in the June operation. However, President Trump rejected the plan, citing concerns about potential escalation and his policy to limit U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts.

A U.S. official was quoted saying, “We are prepared to use all available tools, but the president does not want to go that far.”

The report also states that the U.S. and Israel are now weighing whether further airstrikes may be necessary if Iran fails to return to nuclear negotiations or if reconstruction efforts at the damaged facilities are detected. The decision will hinge on Tehran’s next moves.

President Trump initially declared after the strikes that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been “completely neutralized,” warning of more severe consequences should Iran continue its nuclear ambitions. However, follow-up reporting by CNN and The New York Times, based on early assessments from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), suggested that the actual impact was more limited.

Trump strongly rejected those reports, calling them “fake news.”

Analysts believe the discrepancy between public statements and internal findings may affect Washington’s diplomatic leverage. If Iran perceives the strike as less effective, it could embolden hardliners. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration faces increasing scrutiny over whether a limited strike without follow-through was strategically sound.

The situation remains fluid. While Trump has avoided a prolonged military campaign, renewed Iranian enrichment activities could force a reassessment. For now, U.S. policy appears focused on deterrence without escalation—though the window for diplomacy may be narrowing.

🔗 Reported from Washington, D.C., United States – World News War Correspondence Desk

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