Rubio: Iran has highly enriched uranium sufficient to make at least nine or ten bombs

Rubio: Iran has highly enriched uranium sufficient to make at least nine or ten bombs

In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, US President Donald Trump announced that the American military has completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran. The strikes, which took place on Saturday, June 18, 2025, targeted Iran's Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan facilities [1].

The strikes mark a substantial escalation in the conflict, which began with Israel's surprise attack on Iranian nuclear and military targets on June 13, 2025. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated that the goal was to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, which he claimed could soon produce a nuclear bomb [1].

Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. In response to Israel's initial strikes, Iran launched hundreds of rockets and drones, leading to a prolonged air war between the two countries [1]. The conflict has since expanded to involve the US military, which has now entered the fray.

According to Trump, the strikes were conducted using the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, capable of penetrating deep into the earth and concrete [1]. The Fordo facility, in particular, is believed to be crucial to Iran's nuclear ambitions, as it is hidden away in a mountainside south of Tehran and is considered to be deeper underground than the Channel Tunnel connecting the UK and France [1].

The impact of the strikes on the ground remains unclear. Iran's deputy political director, Hassan Abedini, stated that the facilities had been evacuated a "while ago," and that even if the strikes were successful, Iran "didn't suffer a major blow because the materials had already been taken out" [1]. However, Trump claimed that the "nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated" [1].

The US involvement in the conflict has raised questions about the potential for a broader regional war. Iran has threatened to target US military assets in the region, including the US Navy's 5th Fleet HQ at Mina Salman in Bahrain and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies [1]. The conflict could also spill over to other countries in the region that are perceived to be aiding the US.

In response to the strikes, Israel has tightened its public security restrictions across the country, with schools, workplaces, and other public gatherings prohibited [2]. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the measures were in response to the US attacks on Iran's key nuclear sites.

Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio has warned that Iran has highly enriched uranium sufficient to make at least nine or ten bombs. "Iran's nuclear program is now at a critical juncture," Rubio stated, "and the world must remain vigilant to prevent a nuclear catastrophe" [2].

The US strikes have also raised questions about the legal basis for the military action. While the president has the authority to deploy US troops and conduct military operations without a formal declaration of war, only Congress can formally declare war on another country [1].

References:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg9r4q99g4o
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/newsblogs/israel-iran-conflict-trump-says-after-strikes-iran-must-now-agree-to-end-this-war-with-israel/liveblog/122000575.cms