US Senator Marco Rubio has claimed that recent American airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites caused “very significant, substantial” damage, pushing Iran much further away from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In an interview with Politico, Rubio praised the Biden administration’s action, describing it as a decisive move that delivered a severe blow to Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
“The bottom line is, they are much further away from a nuclear weapon today than they were before the president took this bold action,” Rubio said. He added that more information was still coming in but insisted that the strikes “did damage to a variety of different components” in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The strikes, reportedly conducted with advanced precision-guided munitions, targeted facilities believed to be involved in uranium enrichment and weapons development. The US has not released official visuals or a full post-strike assessment.
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CNN Report Casts Doubt on Extent of Damage
Despite Rubio’s confident remarks, conflicting reports have emerged over how effective the strikes actually were. A CNN report, citing sources familiar with a preliminary US intelligence assessment, suggested the damage may have only delayed Iran’s nuclear programme by a few months.
This assessment sharply contrasts with earlier claims by former President Donald Trump, who insisted that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” CNN’s report implies that while physical damage occurred, the broader programme remains largely intact and could be restarted within months.
Rubio didn’t hold back in criticizing CNN’s account, calling it a “false story” that “really shouldn’t be rereported.” He accused the network of misrepresenting classified assessments and undermining a successful military operation for political reasons.
Mixed Reactions Reflect Deeper Tensions
Rubio’s comments and the conflicting reports reflect a wider debate within US foreign policy circles about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While the Biden administration has not officially confirmed the full scope of damage, its messaging suggests an intent to both curb Iran’s capabilities and avoid full-scale escalation.
Iran, meanwhile, has vowed to rebuild what was lost and accelerate its nuclear program in response. Iranian state media accused the US of “blatant aggression” and warned that the strikes would only strengthen their resolve.
Analysts are split. Some say the strikes may temporarily buy time, but don’t offer a long-term solution unless followed by diplomatic engagement or stricter monitoring. Others worry they could backfire, pushing Iran to go underground or abandon any remaining transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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