WSN 024 | Washington/Tehran – [Insert Date]
Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed today in a highly controversial statement that the United States has conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the heavily fortified Fordow Uranium Enrichment Facility. The remarks, made during a rally in [insert location], have triggered a wave of international speculation, alarm, and demands for official clarification.
Trump's Shocking Claim
“We hit them hard — three of their worst nuclear facilities, including Fordow. Biden never would’ve had the guts,” Trump said, referencing what he called a “necessary mission to stop Iran from becoming nuclear-armed.”
Trump did not specify when the alleged bombings occurred or under whose administration they took place. His statement has not been confirmed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any other official government source at the time of writing.
An image released by the White House shows Trump in the situation room with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and other cabinet members. [Via Reuters]
Trump delivers address alongside US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, DC. [Carlos Barria/Reuters]
Patrons of the Chapel Street Cafe in Chicago, Illinois watch as Trump delivers address. [Dylan Martinez/Reuters]
Emma Edwards holds a poster while protesting outside Lafayette Park in Washington, DC. [Ken Cedeno/Reuters]
What Is Fordow?
The Fordow nuclear site, located deep beneath a mountain near the city of Qom, is one of Iran’s most secure enrichment facilities. Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), enrichment activities there were heavily restricted, though Iran resumed operations following the U.S. withdrawal from the deal in 2018.
Iran Responds
Iranian state media dismissed Trump’s claim as “dangerous propaganda” and warned it could provoke unnecessary escalation. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization issued a statement asserting that all its nuclear facilities remain “safe, operational, and under IAEA safeguards.”
Analysis
If Trump’s claim is proven true, it would represent a dramatic and unauthorized escalation in U.S.–Iran tensions with far-reaching consequences. However, absent official verification, experts caution against drawing immediate conclusions.