'Now is the time for peace,' says Trump after bombing three Iranian sites- but did Iran outsmart the bombs?

Evacuations blunt the edge of U.S. firepower
Live Events
Inside the strikes: what was targeted
U.S.-Israel coordination: A calculated escalation
Did Iran anticipate the attack?
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In a striking display of both military might and diplomatic paradox, President Donald Trump declared, 'Now is the time for peace,' just hours after ordering U.S. airstrikes on Iran 's most sensitive nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz , and Isfahan.The attacks, coordinated closely with Israel, were intended as a decisive blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions and a dramatic intervention in the spiraling Israel-Iran conflict.Yet, as new details emerge, a different narrative is taking shape—one that raises questions about both the effectiveness and the real impact of this high-stakes gamble.Iranian state media revealed that the targeted nuclear sites had been evacuated 'some time ago,' a move that appears to have dramatically limited the physical and radiological consequences of the strikes. Sensitive materials and personnel were removed in advance, reportedly as part of a contingency plan to avoid casualties and prevent environmental fallout.This preemptive action meant that, despite the deployment of advanced B-2 bombers and bunker-buster munitions, the U.S. strikes may have hit mostly empty facilities, blunting the intended effect of crippling Iran's nuclear program.The deeply buried enrichment facility was the primary target, with the U.S. unleashing its most powerful bunker-busters. However, the extent of the damage remains unclear, and Iranian officials insist there were no casualties or radiation leaks.Iran's main uranium enrichment hub was also struck, but, according to Iranian sources, no radioactive material was present at the time, further limiting the risk of contamination.This site, crucial for uranium conversion and fuel production, was similarly evacuated, and no significant radiological impact has been reported.U.S. officials confirmed that Israel was notified both before and after the strikes, underscoring a high level of coordination between the two allies. Israeli sources described the operation as a critical escalation, coming after days of Israeli strikes that had already weakened Iran's missile arsenal.The revelation that Iran had already cleared its nuclear sites before the strikes raises the possibility that Tehran anticipated the attack, potentially through intelligence or by reading the diplomatic and military signals coming from Washington and Jerusalem. This has sparked debate among analysts: Did the U.S. and Israel achieve their objective, or did Iran's advance warning and evacuation render the operation more symbolic than strategic?As President Trump calls for peace, the region remains on edge. Iran's leaders have vowed a response, and the risk of further escalation persists. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports no immediate radiological threat to the public, and European diplomats continue to push for de-escalation.

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