Washington: The White House has declared the recent US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities a significant achievement, expressing confidence that the operations substantially impacted Iran's nuclear capabilities. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt conveyed this sentiment, stating that the targeted attacks effectively destroyed Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles.
According to Anadolu Agency, the strikes focused on three key Iranian nuclear sites, with Leavitt confirming that the US has a "high degree of confidence" that the locations hit were where Iran's enriched uranium was stored. She emphasized that the operation had "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites, significantly hindering their ability to produce nuclear weapons and enhancing US national security.
Leavitt also addressed ongoing discussions about potential regime change in Iran, a topic that has garnered attention following comments from US President Donald hinting at such a possibility. She noted that while the US remains open to diplomatic solutions, there is a belief that the Iranian people should have the power to determine their own future, hinting at a preference for grassroots change rather than direct foreign intervention.
Furthermore, the White House commented on the strategic implications of Iran's potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments. Leavitt assured that the US administration is "actively and closely monitoring" the situation, warning that any attempt by Iran to disrupt traffic in the strait would be "foolish" and detrimental to Tehran itself.
The military operation saw US forces deploy six bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo facility using B-2 stealth bombers, alongside a series of cruise missile strikes on the Natanz and Isfahan sites. The strikes were part of a broader conflict initiated by Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, which prompted retaliatory actions from Tehran. While the US was not involved in the initial Israeli-led strikes, it later intervened at Israel's request to target sites beyond the reach of Israeli forces.