Trump says Iranian nuclear capabilites ‘obliterated’ despite comments from UN watchdog Donald Trump has said “collected intelligence” since the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites has shown the country’s nuclear capabilities have been “obliterated”, Reuters reports. It runs counter to a leaked US intelligence report which said the damage had only set Iran’s nuclear programme back a “few months”. Earlier, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said of the Fordow site while “no one , including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow”, it is expected to be “very significant”. On Wednesday Grossi said his top priority is getting his inspectors back to Iran’s nuclear facilities to assess the impact of US and Israeli military strikes and verify its stocks of enriched uranium. “This is the number 1 priority,” International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi told a news conference at an Austrian security cabinet meeting. He is seeking his inspectors’ return to Iranian sites including the three plants where it was enriching uranium until Israel launched strikes on 13 June. Asked if Iran had informed him of the status of its stocks of enriched uranium, particularly its uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade, he pointed to a letter he received from Iran on June 13, saying Iran would take “special measures” to protect its nuclear materials and equipment.

Trump says Iranian nuclear capabilites ‘obliterated’ despite comments from UN watchdog

Donald Trump has said “collected intelligence” since the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites has shown the country’s nuclear capabilities have been “obliterated”, Reuters reports.

It runs counter to a leaked US intelligence report which said the damage had only set Iran’s nuclear programme back a “few months”.

Earlier, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said of the Fordow site while “no one , including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow”, it is expected to be “very significant”.

On Wednesday Grossi said his top priority is getting his inspectors back to Iran’s nuclear facilities to assess the impact of US and Israeli military strikes and verify its stocks of enriched uranium.

“This is the number 1 priority,” International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi told a news conference at an Austrian security cabinet meeting. He is seeking his inspectors’ return to Iranian sites including the three plants where it was enriching uranium until Israel launched strikes on 13 June.

Asked if Iran had informed him of the status of its stocks of enriched uranium, particularly its uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade, he pointed to a letter he received from Iran on June 13, saying Iran would take “special measures” to protect its nuclear materials and equipment.

The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards command centre, Ali Shadmani, died of wounds sustained during Israel’s military strikes on the country, Iranian state media said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

The guards’ command centre vowed “harsh revenge” for his killing, state media added.

Israel’s armed forces had said on 17 June that it killed Shadmani, who it identified as Iran’s wartime chief of staff and most senior military commander.

Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US has not given up its maximum pressure on Iran – including restrictions on sales of Iranian oil – but signaled a potential easing in enforcement to help the country rebuild, Reuters reports.

When asked if he was easing oil sanctions on Iran, Trump said at a news conference at the Nato Summit :

They’re going to need money to put that country back into shape. We want to see that happen,”

Trump said a day earlier that China can continue to purchase Iranian oil after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, but the White House later clarified that his comments did not indicate a relaxation of US sanctions.