Bureau (June 23, 2025)– In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, the United States conducted a series of airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—over the weekend, marking its first direct military action against Iran. President Donald Trump announced the operation, dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," on Saturday night, claiming the strikes had "completely and totally obliterated" Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
The operation involved seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, which departed from U.S. bases for an 18-hour mission, dropping 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)—30,000-pound "bunker-buster" bombs—along with dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon confirmed the strikes targeted Fordo’s deeply buried uranium enrichment plant, Natanz’s centrifuge halls, and Isfahan’s research complex, aiming to dismantle what U.S. officials describe as Iran’s nuclear weaponization ambitions.
Fordo, nestled 80-90 meters underground in the Zagros Mountains, was the primary focus due to its fortified design, which experts say can only be penetrated by the U.S.’s GBU-57 MOP. Satellite imagery released Sunday revealed six fresh craters and debris scattered across the mountainside, suggesting significant surface impact, though Iranian officials claim the facility was evacuated and its enriched uranium relocated prior to the attack. Natanz, Iran’s largest enrichment site, showed new damage to its underground cascade hall, while Isfahan’s tunnel entrances appeared collapsed, possibly as a defensive measure by Iran.
President Trump addressed the nation from the White House, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asserting the strikes were a "spectacular military success" executed in coordination with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation, calling it a historic blow to Iran’s nuclear threat. However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack as a "flagrant breach of international law," warning of "everlasting consequences" and vowing retaliation while reserving all options.
The strikes come amid a week of escalating tensions, following Israel’s initial airstrikes on June 13 and Iran’s subsequent missile and drone barrages. The U.S. action followed Trump’s failed last-ditch diplomatic effort to negotiate with Iran via Turkey, which collapsed when Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could not be reached. Despite Trump’s earlier campaign promises to avoid Middle East conflicts, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and some allies, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warning of increased war risks.
Iranian state media reported no casualties or radioactive contamination, a claim supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which detected no off-site radiation spikes. However, the Iranian parliament’s move to close the Strait of Hormuz—vital for global oil trade—has raised fears of economic fallout, with Brent crude prices surging over 4% early Monday.
Global reactions are mixed. Russia and China condemned the strikes, while the UK and France called for de-escalation. Protests erupted in Paris, Islamabad, and Manila, with demonstrators decrying U.S. aggression. The Pentagon has placed U.S. bases in the region on high alert, anticipating possible Iranian counterstrikes via proxies or direct missile attacks.
As the world awaits Iran’s response, the strike’s long-term impact on its nuclear program remains uncertain. Analysts suggest that while infrastructure damage may delay enrichment, Iran’s technical knowledge and potential secret sites could sustain its ambitions. For now, the Middle East stands at a precarious juncture, with the specter of broader conflict looming large.
