U.S. Air Campaign Inflicts Severe Damage on Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure

In a meticulously orchestrated and highly calibrated military initiative codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, the United States executed precision airstrikes on Iran’s most fortified nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—on June 21–22, 2025. The mission involved the deployment of over 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers equipped with 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)—each weighing 30,000 pounds—and more than two dozen submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, affirmed that the operation inflicted “extremely severe damage” on the trio of nuclear sites, describing the strikes as both covert and strategically overwhelming. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies revealed that the Fordow facility, located deep beneath mountainous terrain, was significantly impacted, with visible craters and sealed tunnel entrances—clear indicators of MOP deployment.

High-ranking officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump, stated that the operation was narrowly focused on neutralizing Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, explicitly denying any intent to pursue regime change. Hegseth characterized the mission as a “bold and brilliant” display of military precision and warned of intensified reprisals should Iran or its proxies threaten U.S. interests.

President Trump lauded the campaign as a “spectacular military success,” urging Tehran to opt for diplomacy or risk further escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu similarly endorsed the strikes, calling them a potent reaffirmation of “American deterrence.”

Iran’s response was immediate and strongly condemnatory. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the operation as “dangerous aggression” and asserted Iran’s sovereign right to defend itself. He reiterated that the nation's nuclear program would continue in compliance with IAEA safeguards. Iranian authorities downplayed the extent of the damage, reporting no significant radiation leaks or civilian casualties, and confirmed that emergency protocols had been activated across all affected sites.

This operation marks the first combat deployment of the GBU-57 MOP and represents a dramatic escalation in the ongoing U.S.–Iran–Israel conflict. It follows a wave of Israeli airstrikes initiated on June 13 and subsequent Iranian missile and drone retaliations.

International reaction has been mixed. U.S. allies in Europe, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, have called for restraint and a renewed emphasis on diplomatic engagement. Meanwhile, global markets responded to the rising geopolitical risk by tightening energy supply forecasts, reflecting concerns over regional stability.

As international observers await the comprehensive Battle Damage Assessment and monitor potential Iranian countermeasures, military analysts emphasize that the operation was designed to degrade—but not entirely destroy—Iran's nuclear infrastructure. The stated aim is to preserve space for diplomatic resolution, albeit under significantly increased strategic leverage.

source- BBC news, The Guardian