Iran downplays US strikes, says "only two tunnels" damaged at Fordow

Iranian government officials and state media are downplaying the impact of recent U.S. airstrikes on nuclear infrastructure, claiming that only two tunnels at the Fordow nuclear facility sustained damage.

Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of “successful” attacks on Iranian nuclear targets—including the heavily fortified underground site in Fordow—Iranian authorities moved swiftly to contain the narrative, Caliber.Az writes.

State broadcaster IRIB dismissed Trump’s remarks as a “bluff,” with one anchor asserting that the damage was limited to “just two tunnels at the entrance and exit of the Fordow site.”

Shortly after news of the strikes broke, Iranian officials echoed similar sentiments. Morteza Heydari, a representative of the Qom city administration, confirmed that the Fordow facility had been hit, but later emphasised that “the situation is completely calm.”

In a parallel move, Iranian authorities imposed internet restrictions across several regions, citing “cyberattacks by enemies.” The blackout significantly curtailed the flow of images and video footage from the affected areas, raising questions about the full extent of the damage.

The U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, announced by President Donald Trump on June 21, 2025, mark a significant escalation in the long-standing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. These strikes targeted three key nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—with Fordow being the most heavily fortified and strategically significant due to its deep underground construction. The operation was described by Trump as a “spectacular military success,” with claims that Iran’s key uranium enrichment sites were “completely and totally obliterated.” The U.S. deployed B-2 stealth bombers carrying Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, also known as “bunker busters,” designed to penetrate deeply buried targets like Fordow, alongside Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from Navy submarines.

The airstrikes followed a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear and military targets that began on June 13, 2025, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion.” Israel’s campaign aimed to degrade Iran’s nuclear capabilities and eliminate key military and scientific personnel, killing senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities, escalating the conflict further. The U.S. initially distanced itself from Israel’s unilateral strikes, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing that they were not U.S.-backed. However, Trump’s decision to launch direct U.S. strikes on June 21 was reportedly driven by concerns that Israel lacked the capability to destroy Fordow without U.S. assistance, given the facility’s fortifications and the limitations of Israel’s munitions.

By Khagan Isayev