Following President Trump’s assertion that Iran’s nuclear program had been “completely and totally obliterated” by U.S. bombings and missile strikes, the reality surrounding the program appears to be less certain. Senior officials acknowledged they are unclear about the current status of Iran’s stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium.
Vice President JD Vance stated on ABC’s “This Week” that the U.S. intends to take action regarding the fuel in the coming weeks and will engage in discussions with Iran. He noted that this uranium, which is enough to create nine or ten atomic weapons, is of significant concern. Nevertheless, he claimed that Iran’s ability to weaponize the uranium has been significantly diminished as the country lacks the equipment necessary to convert the fuel into functional weapons.
Iran has signaled its disinterest in engaging with the United States, accusing the U.S. of misleading Tehran during prior negotiations while simultaneously preparing for the airstrike. This stockpile has become one of Iran’s few remaining bargaining chips in nuclear discussions.
During a press briefing on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, chose to refrain from endorsing Trump’s optimistic claims of success. They provided an initial assessment of the damage inflicted on the three sites targeted by U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers and Navy Tomahawk missiles, reporting “severe damage and destruction.”