Damage to Iran nuclear facilities ‘unconfirmed’
An international relations expert has accused US President Donald Trump of “exaggerating for a living” following the attack on Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities.
In a televised address to the nation from the White House after the United States joined Israel's air campaign against Tehran, Trump hailed the US attacks as a "spectacular military success” which “obliterated” the country’s nuclear programme.
But Dr Jan Venter from North-West University said Iran has been preparing for this kind of attack, making it impossible to believe that the attacks would have brought its nuclear programme to a halt.
“We know that Iran has been preparing for this eventuality for decades. So they have had time to harden their facilities, and making their facilities bomb-proof,” said Venter.
“I don't believe that the US, even with their weapon superiority and all the extra language that Trump uses, that in one swoop could destroy everything that Iran has.”
Venter believes that only an extensive assessment will be able to determine the extent of damage.
While Trump claimed “Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East must now make peace”, Venter said there has not been an official damage assessment.
It has only confirmed that the exits and entrance to the tunnels that hold enriched materials and center fugees have been destroyed.
“It was confirmed that there were five 747 Aircrafts that went from China to Iran, stayed there a while and returned to China,” Venter said.
“It is open to speculation that some of the scientists, some of the crucial material, some of the crucial instruments are no longer in Iran even.”
Venter believes that Iran, having seen what the capabilities of the US and Israel, would have hidden away most of its importsnt material.
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