Share This Article
June 22, 2025 – In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the United States today launched a series of “massive precision strikes” against three key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and an undisclosed site near Isfahan. The attacks, codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” mark a direct U.S. intervention into the war between Israel and Iran, which had been ongoing for over a week.
U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing the nation from the White House, declared the operation a “spectacular military success,” asserting that Iran's “key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.” He warned of further strikes if Tehran did not “make peace.”
According to U.S. officials, the strikes utilized advanced weaponry, including 30,000-pound GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) “bunker-buster” bombs, delivered by Northrop B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, particularly targeting the deeply buried Fordow facility. Additionally, U.S. submarines reportedly launched approximately 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Natanz and Isfahan sites. This marks the first combat use of the GBU-57A/B MOP bombs.
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the attacks on its Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz sites, but insisted that its nuclear work would not be halted. Iranian officials stated that personnel at the targeted facilities were evacuated before the attacks, and initial field surveys and radiation data showed no signs of radioactive contamination or danger to nearby residents. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. actions as a “grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT,” warning of “everlasting consequences” and affirming Iran's right to self-defense.
The strikes come after more than a week of intensified conflict between Israel and Iran, which began with Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure on June 13, followed by Iranian retaliatory missile strikes on Israel.
International Reactions Mixed
The international community has reacted with a mix of praise, alarm, and calls for de-escalation.
- Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded President Trump's decision, calling it a “bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States” that “will change history.”
- United Nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave alarm, stating that the U.S. use of force was a “dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.” He urged all parties to “de-escalate” and return to diplomacy, emphasizing that “there is no military solution.”
- Iran's Allies: Hamas and Houthi rebels condemned the “American aggression” and vowed to support Iran in its response.
- Saudi Arabia and Qatar: Both nations expressed “great concern” and called for restraint and de-escalation, urging the international community to seek a political solution.
- Russia: The Kremlin strongly condemned the U.S. attacks, labeling them an “irresponsible violation of international law” that would significantly increase the risk of a broader conflict.
The full extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear facilities remains unconfirmed by independent sources. The ramifications of this direct U.S. military intervention in the Iran-Israel conflict are expected to be far-reaching, raising fears of a wider regional war with catastrophic consequences.
