Pentagon: U.S. Strikes Set Back Iran’s Nuclear Program by Two Years
U.S. Airstrikes Hit Key Iranian Nuclear Sites as Israel-Iran War Escalates Across the Region
Watan-The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) stated on Wednesday that recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites have set back Tehran’s nuclear program by up to two years.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell provided the assessment during a press briefing, noting that the official estimate is “probably closer to two years.”
These airstrikes, which reportedly hit key nuclear facilities such as Fordow and Isfahan, were part of a coordinated military escalation with Israel amid an expanding Israel–Iran war that now threatens the broader stability of the Middle East.
The U.S. attacks followed weeks of Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure and scientific facilities, as well as retaliatory missile launches by Iran targeting Israeli and American interests in the region. The conflict has spilled into Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, involving armed groups aligned with both powers.
In parallel, Iran has vowed to rebuild its nuclear program and strengthen its regional alliances in response to what it calls “acts of aggression” by Washington and Tel Aviv. Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader, have warned of “strategic retaliation”, while Russia and China have expressed concern about the growing risk of a full-scale regional war.
The airstrikes come amid intense criticism from international observers who warn that the militarization of the nuclear dispute is rapidly closing the door on diplomacy. Several UN Security Council members have condemned the strikes as violations of international law, urging both the U.S. and Israel to de-escalate immediately.
This military escalation unfolds as Gaza remains under siege, with over 191,000 Palestinian casualties reported since October 2023, and mounting accusations of war crimes and genocide against Israel, backed militarily and politically by the U.S.
The intersection of the Gaza war, U.S. airstrikes on Iran, and Israeli military expansionism is fueling unprecedented instability across the region. With no viable ceasefire mechanisms in place, many analysts warn that the Middle East is entering a new phase of prolonged and highly destructive warfare.
