Iran’s Nuclear Program Under the Midnight Hammer
On the night of Saturday to Sunday, June 22, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized a major military strike targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The Pentagon named the operation “Midnight Hammer,” marking a significant escalation in tensions with Tehran.
The operation involved the B-2 stealth bomber, capable of carrying the GBU-57/B bunker-busting bomb, weighing nearly 14 tons. This weapon is believed to be the only one capable of destroying Iran’s deeply buried underground facilities, making this the largest mission of its kind in history.
A preliminary strike was carried out by a U.S. submarine at an undisclosed location, using Tomahawk cruise missiles. The B-2 bomber was escorted by F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to ensure operational success.
The real impact of the American strikes remains disputed. President Trump claimed the operation “erased Iran’s nuclear program,” while Iranian officials acknowledged damage but downplayed its severity. Analysts remain cautious about the likelihood of total destruction of the targeted facilities.
The strike followed ongoing allegations—denied by Iran—that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons, especially after achieving uranium enrichment levels of 60 percent. Yet one key question remains: what happened to the enriched uranium stockpiles?
According to Iranian sources, most of the highly enriched uranium—also referred to as “yellowcake”—was moved to a secret location prior to the attack.
The U.S. called on Iran to return to peaceful negotiations and warned against retaliation, cautioning that any counterattack would have disastrous consequences. Meanwhile, Israel continued its targeting of Iran’s missile program.
Just hours after the U.S. operation, Iran responded by launching a barrage of ballistic missiles in what has been described as its largest strike since tensions escalated with Israel. The targeted areas reportedly included greater Tel Aviv and the city of Haifa. While asserting its right to respond, Iran did not reveal its full intentions.
The international community now watches the Middle East with heightened concern, wondering whether the situation will lead to diplomatic resolution—or spiral into even more dramatic confrontations in the coming days.
