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Iranians Downplay the Damage to their Nuclear Facilities

(New York Times) Farnaz Fassihi - Iran was reeling from American military attacks on its three main nuclear sites early Sunday, with four officials describing the mood in the government as one of defeat and national humiliation. Publicly, Iranian officials have tried to project a sense of normalcy even though nothing is normal. They have tried to downplay the damage to the nuclear facilities, even though satellite images show the mountainous site of Fordo's underground facilities punctured with huge holes. Hamid Hosseini, a member of the country's Chamber of Commerce energy committee, said in a phone interview from Tehran that Iran did not have the upper hand - militarily and technologically - and that it was time to stand down. "We need to make national interests the priority. We are not supposed to be at war forever." State television and news media affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards reported that the nuclear sites had not sustained major damage, and that nearby residents had not heard huge explosions. They broadcast scenes of people shopping at the market and driving on roads in Qum and Isfahan, the urban areas closest to the nuclear sites.
2025-06-23 00:00:00
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