Did Iran Outsmart the U.S.? Tehran Says Uranium Was Moved Before Strike

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the United States military launched coordinated airstrikes on three of Iran’s most sensitive nuclear facilities, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, late Sunday night. The attack, announced by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, was described as a “very successful operation” aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure and halting what the U.S. has long viewed as a critical threat to global stability.

“All aircraft are now out of Iranian airspace. A full array of bombs was dropped on Fordow, and all aircraft are safe on their way home,” the president wrote, praising the precision and effectiveness of the operation. “There is no other military in the world that could have done this. Now is the time for peace!”

Later that evening, Trump addressed the American public in a televised statement, declaring the mission an unqualified success. “Our goal was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability and to end the nuclear threat from the world's number one sponsor of terrorism,” he said. “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a resounding military success. Iran's main enrichment facilities were completely destroyed.”

However, Iran offered a different narrative. A senior official claimed that prior to the attack, all of Fordow’s enriched uranium stockpile had already been transferred to a secure, undisclosed location. Satellite images captured two days before the strike revealed a large convoy moving near the Fordow facility, leading some analysts to believe that Tehran may have anticipated the attack and preemptively safeguarded key nuclear assets.

While the U.S. military asserts that the destruction of Fordow and related facilities severely damages Iran’s nuclear program, it remains unclear how much material was preserved or whether Iran’s enrichment capability can be quickly restored. The Iranian government has not confirmed the exact scope of the damage but has vowed to respond at a time and manner of its choosing.

The strike marks a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the West and Iran, particularly at a time when regional tensions are already sky-high. Whether this action brings deterrence or triggers further conflict remains to be seen.