'Without question' — Trump says US would consider bombing Iran again, halts plans to ease sanctions
The United States would consider bombing Iran again if the country’s nuclear program once again became of concern, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters during a press briefing on June 27.
When asked whether Trump would consider bombing Iran if the country were able to enrich uranium to a concerning level, Trump responded: “Sure. Without question, absolutely."
On June 21, the United States conducted strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, dropping over a dozen bunker buster bombs on the sites and causing significant damage to the country’s nuclear program.
“Turned out to be unbelievable,” Trump said of the strikes on June 27, despite mixed reports on the success of the strikes.
A leaked U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, reported by CNN, found that the strikes did not destroy the core of Tehran’s nuclear program. Instead, the intelligence suggests the attacks likely delayed Iran’s progress by “a few months."
Despite the leak, Trump administration officials have rebuffed reports that the strikes did not fully fulfill its object, amid reports of Iran having possibly moved its enriched uranium away from the sites.
“The objective was to eliminate enrichment in Iran… and he achieved that objective,” U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said on June 24, adding that he personally reviewed damage assessments and saw “no doubt” that key nuclear infrastructure was destroyed.
Trump’s comments on future attacks comes as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei downplayed the success of the strikes, claiming victory over Israel and the United States.
“I SAVED (Khamenei) FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH,” Trump wrote on Truth social on June 27, adding that he has halted plans to potentially ease sanctions on Iran. “The sanction are BITING,” Trump wrote.
“Iran has to get back into the World Order flow, or things will only get worse for them,” he added.
On June 24, Trump announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel had come into effect, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and a retaliatory Iranian attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk