Iran International
Iran’s nuclear program was a threat to the United States, US Senator Cynthia Lummis told Iran International, adding that last month's US attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities were further justified by Tehran's avowed hostility.
“The Iran nuclear program was a threat to the United States because Iran voices ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’ And It was a direct threat to us," Lummis said.
"It was the right thing to do to take it out on a very targeted basis and then hope that the Iranian people, who are not our enemies, can reclaim their government and participate in a global economy that is robust and that is good for the Iranian people.”
The administration of US President Donald Trump has counted the attacks on the Natanz, Fordo and Isfahan nuclear sites dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer as a historic victory.
Trump had mooted killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the early days of the US-backed 12-day Israeli war and had broached regime change but swiftly called for a ceasefire after the US attacks which continues to hold.
Trump asserted Iran's nuclear program was “obliterated”. However, subsequent US intelligence assessments have varied.
An initial assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) said the attacks may have set Iran's nuclear program back by only months. A subsequent Pentagon report concluded the strikes hindered Iran’s nuclear progress by up to two years.
The Central Intelligence Agency and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also said the Islamic Republic's nuclear infrastructure had been severely damaged and set back by years.
