In a revealing op-ed published by The New York Times, former U.S.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the American military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities did not cripple the country's nuclear ambitions.
While acknowledging that the strikes may have temporarily slowed Iran's progress, Blinken emphasized that Tehran is capable of rapidly repairing the damage and even relocating its facilities to depths that are nearly unreachable by conventional munitions.
He added, “Iran can rebuild its nuclear infrastructure quickly and continue weapons development—even underground and in fortified locations.”
Citing military experts, Blinken expressed doubt about the effectiveness of U.S.
bunker-buster bombs, including the 30,000-pound (13.6-ton) models, in penetrating hardened targets like the Fordow nuclear facility.
“Initial reports suggest that, although Iran’s nuclear infrastructure suffered serious damage, it was not destroyed,” he concluded.
Echoing Blinken’s concerns, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN that the U.S. military had not delivered a "knockout blow" to Iran's nuclear program, despite bold claims by former President Donald Trump.
Antony Blinken, Iran Nuclear Program, US Airstrikes, Fordow Facility, Bunker Buster Bombs, Donald Trump, Chris Murphy, Iranian Nuclear Sites, The New York Times, US-Iran Relations, Military Strategy, Nuclear Diplomacy, Deep Underground Targets