U.S. Vice President JD Vance declared Monday that Iran’s nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile programs have been “obliterated” by coordinated U.S. and Israeli military operations.
Speaking to Fox News, Vance said the strikes targeted critical Iranian facilities, including Natanz, Isfahan, and the deeply buried Fordo site. “Our goal was to eliminate the enrichment program—and we did,” he said. “The uranium may still exist, but Iran now lacks the means to weaponize it.”
The coordinated attack, dubbed Operation Rising Lion by Israel, reportedly began on June 13 and intensified with the U.S. joining over the weekend. While Iran disputes the extent of the damage, U.S. officials believe its nuclear timeline has been set back by years.
Vance also claimed Iran’s missile production sites were “largely destroyed.” The Pentagon revealed that bunker-busting bombs were flown from Missouri to Iran without detection—demonstrating both reach and stealth.
“This should serve as a warning,” Vance said. “If Iran rebuilds, we can—and will—strike again.”
The strikes came in response to escalating conflict that saw Iran fire at Israeli and U.S. targets. The U.S. retaliation was swift and forceful, with President Trump later calling for a ceasefire that appears to have ended the 12-day war.
Despite claims of success, experts caution that verification of the damage may take weeks. Fordo, for example, is buried deep beneath a mountain, making immediate assessment difficult.
As of Tuesday morning, both Israeli and U.S. forces remain on high alert, and public safety restrictions remain in place. While the ceasefire is holding for now, military officials warn that Iran’s long-term ambitions may not be permanently disrupted.
Still, Vance remains optimistic: “This is the beginning of something very big for peace in the Middle East.”
