Iran Still ‘Shell-Shocked’ After U.S. Airstrikes, Says Energy Secretary Chris Wright

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday that the Iranian regime remains “shell-shocked” following last week’s coordinated American airstrikes on several of Iran’s nuclear facilities, emphasizing that sanctions remain firmly in place as part of Washington’s continued “maximum pressure” campaign.

Wright described the psychological and strategic impact of the airstrikes as “immense,” noting that Tehran has yet to mount a meaningful response—either diplomatically or militarily. “Iran is still shell-shocked,” Wright stated bluntly. “They were caught completely off guard, and they know we can do it again.”

The strikes, launched in the early hours of June 22 under Operation Midnight Hammer, targeted major nuclear infrastructure at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. U.S. officials have claimed the facilities were either “severely damaged or destroyed,” disrupting Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities and complicating its path toward a potential nuclear weapon.

Iranian state media, however, has downplayed the extent of the damage, calling it “superficial and temporary.” A leaked U.S. intelligence memo suggests that the setback to Iran’s nuclear program may ultimately amount to only “a few months,” raising questions about the long-term efficacy of the operation.

Nonetheless, Wright dismissed concerns that the airstrikes were merely symbolic. “These weren’t just fireworks,” he said. “We sent a message—militarily, diplomatically, and economically—that the U.S. won’t tolerate Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”

“All sanctions remain in full force,” Wright reiterated. “Iran continues to fund terror proxies across the region, and we will not reward that behavior with concessions.”