Top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader says uranium stockpile intact despite US strikes

ISTANBUL - A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei confirmed Sunday that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium is still intact despite US attacks on three nuclear sites, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

"Even if nuclear sites are destroyed, game isn’t over, enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, political will remain,” Ali Shamkhani wrote on X.

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him, flanked by the Iranian flag and a portrait of his predecessor the late supreme leader and Iranian revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, giving a televised address in Tehran on June 18, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)

"With legitimate defence right, political and operational initiative is now with the side that plays smart, avoids blind strikes. Surprises will continue!” he added.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran's official radio and television broadcaster, reported Sunday that targeted sites had been evacuated before the attack and sensitive nuclear materials were moved to safe locations, without providing details.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said American forces bombed Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.

The US targeted the sites with six bunker-buster bombs dropped on the Fordo facility with B-2 stealth bombers, along with dozens of submarine-launched cruise missile strikes on the Natanz and Isfahan facilities.

The attacks came as the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.

Both sides have reported fatalities and injuries in the exchange of airstrikes. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU