U.S. Launches Unprecedented Strike on Iran's Nuclear Infrastructure, Hitting Three Key Facilities

Washington Deploys Massive "Bunker Buster" Bombs in Direct Military Intervention as Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates

June 22, 2025 - In the style of the Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The United States launched a massive military strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday, marking America's direct entry into the escalating Israel-Iran conflict with what President Donald Trump called a "spectacular military success."

The coordinated attack, dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer" by U.S. officials, targeted Iran's most sensitive nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using America's most powerful conventional weapons. Trump announced the strikes via Truth Social, declaring that Iran's "key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."

Weapons and Tactics Deployed

The operation utilized the full spectrum of America's advanced military capabilities, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Chief Dan Caine providing operational details in Sunday briefings.

Fordow Nuclear Facility:

• Primary Target: The heavily fortified underground uranium enrichment facility, buried approximately 300 feet beneath a mountain near Qom
• Weapons Used: 14 GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, known as "bunker busters"
• Aircraft: B-2 Spirit stealth bombers operating from Whiteman Air Force Base
• Tactical Approach: Multiple precision strikes targeting tunnel entrances and underground chambers

Natanz Nuclear Complex:

• Weapons Used: Additional bunker-buster bombs targeting underground centrifuge facilities
• Previous Damage: Site had already sustained damage from Israeli strikes earlier in the conflict
• Strategic Significance: Iran's main uranium enrichment facility, operating cascades of advanced centrifuges

Isfahan Nuclear Facility:

• Weapons Used: More than 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. submarines
• Target Assessment: Officials described Isfahan as "the hardest target" due to its fortified underground structure
• Operational Complexity: Required extensive intelligence and precision targeting despite being overshadowed by focus on Fordow

The GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator

The centerpiece of the U.S. assault was the deployment of the GBU-57/B MOP, the heaviest conventional bomb in the American arsenal:

Technical Specifications:

• Weight: 30,000 pounds (13,600 kg) - equivalent to a city bus
• Dimensions: 20.5 feet long, 31.5 inches in diameter
• Explosive Payload: 5,300 pounds of specialized explosives
• Penetration Capability: Up to 200 feet through reinforced concrete or 60 meters through earth
• Guidance System: Military-grade GPS precision targeting
• Impact Velocity: Estimated to exceed Mach 1 (767 mph)

Operational Limitations:

• Only deployable by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers
• Each B-2 can carry maximum of two MOPs
• Never before used in combat operations
• Total U.S. inventory estimated at approximately 20 bombs

Bomb Damage Assessment

Satellite imagery analysis reveals significant changes to targeted facilities:

Fordow Facility:

• Satellite images show damage to tunnel entrances and underground access points
• Gray ash layer covering extensive area of mountainside indicates massive explosive impact
• Intelligence suggests evacuation of enriched uranium prior to strikes, limiting radioactive contamination
• Underground facility damage assessment ongoing due to depth of target

Natanz Complex:

• Multiple buildings destroyed in above-ground facilities
• Power infrastructure completely disabled
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirms "severe damage" to centrifuge operations
• Underground halls may have sustained structural damage from vibration effects

Isfahan Site:

• Missile impacts visible across facility perimeter
• Critical infrastructure targeted including power systems and support buildings
• Assessment complicated by facility's distributed layout

International Response and Verification

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed no increase in off-site radiation levels following the strikes, though contamination within facility boundaries remains under investigation. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced an emergency meeting for Monday to assess the attacks' implications.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as crossing "a very big red line" and warned of "everlasting consequences." However, Iranian officials also claimed advance evacuation of the Fordow facility minimized damage to nuclear materials.

Strategic Implications

Military analysts note the unprecedented nature of the operation:

• First Combat Use: The GBU-57/B has never been deployed in warfare, making this its operational debut
• Technical Achievement: Successful penetration of Iran's most heavily fortified nuclear site demonstrates advanced U.S. capabilities
• Strategic Message: Operation signals American willingness to use its most advanced conventional weapons to prevent nuclear proliferation

Defense experts estimate the strikes may set back Iran's nuclear program by 1-2 years, though concerns remain about undeclared facilities and the potential for accelerated weapons development in response.

Escalation Concerns

The strikes represent a dramatic escalation from the U.S. role of defensive support to direct offensive action against Iranian territory. Trump warned of additional strikes if Iran retaliates, stating "there are many targets left."

Iran has already responded with approximately 30 missile strikes against Israel, with four missiles penetrating Israeli defense systems and causing casualties. Regional allies including Saudi Arabia, China, and European Union officials have called for immediate de-escalation.

Looking Forward

The success of Operation Midnight Hammer establishes new precedents for both bunker-busting technology and U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. However, questions remain about the long-term effectiveness of military action against Iran's nuclear ambitions and the potential for broader regional conflict.

President Trump has indicated willingness to negotiate with Iran while maintaining military pressure, calling the current moment "historic" for achieving lasting peace in the region.

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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Sources

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2. Fox News. "US strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites, Trump announces." June 22, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/israel-iran-conflict-june-21-2025

3. NPR. "U.S. strikes 3 nuclear sites in Iran, in major regional conflict escalation." June 22, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/21/nx-s1-5441127/iran-us-strike-nuclear-trump

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5. CBS News. "U.S. launches strikes on 3 Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump says." June 22, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-launches-strikes-iranian-nuclear-facilities-trump-says/

6. CNN. "Live updates: US strikes Iranian nuclear sites as Iran-Israel conflict continues." June 22, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-conflict-06-22-25-intl-hnk

7. PBS NewsHour. "What to know about the 3 Iranian nuclear sites that were hit by U.S. strikes." June 22, 2025. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-to-know-about-the-3-iranian-nuclear-sites-that-were-hit-by-u-s-strikes

8. The Washington Post. "The GBU-57 MOP is a crucial weapon if the U.S. strikes Iran." June 18, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/17/massive-ordnance-penetrator-iran-bunker-buster/

9. Scientific American. "Why This Is the Only Bomb That Could Destroy Iran's Nuclear Bunker—Under 300 Feet of Rock." June 19, 2025. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-massive-ordnance-penetrator-bomb-israel-wants-to-destroy-irans-fordo/

10. Newsweek. "Satellite Images Show 'Unusual' Activity at Iran Nuclear Site Before Strikes." June 22, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/iran-nuclear-strikes-us-donald-trump-fordow-satellite-imagery-unusual-activity-2088918

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BOOM! TRUMP NUKES IRAN'S NUKE PROGRAM

POTUS unleashes America's biggest bombs on terror state's underground lairs

In the style of New York Post June 22, 2025

President Trump just dropped the hammer on Iran — literally.

The commander-in-chief unleashed America's most devastating "bunker buster" bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday, obliterating the rogue regime's uranium enrichment facilities in a jaw-dropping display of U.S. military might.

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran," Trump posted on Truth Social after the massive strikes. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."

AMERICA'S BIGGEST BOMBS

The Pentagon threw everything it had at Iran's nuclear program, deploying 30,000-pound "bunker buster" bombs that have never been used in combat before.

These massive GBU-57 "Massive Ordnance Penetrator" bombs — each weighing as much as a city bus — were specifically designed to destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities buried hundreds of feet beneath mountains.

"There is not another military in the World that could have done this," Trump bragged on social media.

The strikes, dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," hit Iran where it hurts most: the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, plus the Natanz and Isfahan sites that form the backbone of Tehran's nuclear program.

STEALTH BOMBERS STRIKE

Seven of America's deadliest B-2 Spirit stealth bombers flew the 20-hour mission from Missouri, dropping 14 of the massive bunker busters on Iranian targets while avoiding detection.

"The strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump declared in a late-night White House address.

Each of the $2.2 billion stealth bombers can carry two of the monster bombs, which punch through 200 feet of reinforced concrete before exploding with devastating force.

The bombers also got backup from U.S. submarines that fired more than 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Isfahan facility.

IRAN'S NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE

The target that had Tehran sweating the most was Fordow — Iran's crown jewel nuclear facility buried 300 feet under a mountain near the holy city of Qom.

This underground fortress was considered virtually impenetrable to conventional weapons — until Sunday.

"Fordow has always been a major concern because of its location and because of its size," weapons expert Manuel Herrera said. "We all knew from the beginning that Fordow was a site that aimed to enrich uranium for weapons purposes."

The facility was cranking out uranium enriched to 60% purity — just a short step away from weapons-grade material that could fuel nuclear bombs.

IRAN THREATENS REVENGE

Iran's foreign minister immediately fired back, warning of "everlasting consequences" for the devastating U.S. attack.

"The events this morning are outrageous," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi fumed on social media.

But Trump wasn't backing down, warning Iran against any retaliation.

"Remember, there are many targets left," the president threatened.

Iran already tried to hit back, firing about 30 missiles at Israel early Sunday. Four broke through Israeli defenses, causing injuries and damage.

SATELLITE PICS SHOW DEVASTATION

Spy satellite images reveal the massive destruction at Iran's nuclear sites, with the mountainside around Fordow covered in gray ash from the explosions.

At Natanz, multiple buildings were completely destroyed, while power infrastructure was wiped out across all three facilities.

"The nature of the facility at Fordow—under a mountain—means that the success of the operation is not immediately apparent," said military analyst Matthew Savill.

TRUMP'S NUCLEAR GAMBLE

The president's decision to join Israel's war against Iran marks a dramatic escalation that could reshape the entire Middle East.

Trump had promised to keep America out of new wars, but he also vowed that Iran would never get nuclear weapons on his watch.

"There will be either peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," Trump warned Iran's leaders.

WORLD FREAKS OUT

Global leaders are panicking over the unprecedented attack on nuclear facilities, with the UN chief warning of "catastrophic consequences."

China slammed the strikes as a "dangerous escalation," while European allies called for immediate de-escalation.

But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's "historic" decision, saying it would "change the history of the Middle East and beyond."

THE ULTIMATE WEAPONS

The GBU-57 bombs used in the attack represent the pinnacle of American military technology:

• Weight: 30,000 pounds (15 tons) • Length: 20.5 feet • Explosive power: 10 times stronger than previous bunker busters • Penetration: 200 feet through reinforced concrete • Speed: Faster than the speed of sound • Price tag: Classified, but estimated at millions per bomb

Only America's B-2 stealth bombers can carry these monster weapons, and the U.S. military has built only about 20 of them.

IRAN'S CLAIMS

Iranian officials are desperately trying to downplay the damage, claiming they evacuated the facilities before the strikes.

"Iran has been expecting strikes on Fordow for several days. This nuclear facility was evacuated," claimed Iranian parliamentary adviser Mehdi Mohammadi.

But satellite images tell a different story, showing massive destruction across all three nuclear sites.

TRUMP'S MASTER PLAN

The operation involved an elaborate deception to fool Iranian intelligence, with the Pentagon making a big show of deploying bombers to Guam while secretly preparing the real strike force back home in Missouri.

"Classic misdirection," said retired Air Force Gen. Herbert Carlisle. "You make noise where you want them to look, while you prepare your real operation somewhere else."

WHAT'S NEXT?

Military experts say the strikes could set back Iran's nuclear program by years, but won't stop it permanently.

"How do you bomb scientific knowledge out of the head of a scientific community?" asked foreign policy expert Aaron David Miller.

Trump is keeping his options open, offering both the carrot and the stick to Iran's regime.

"NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!" he posted on Truth Social.

But he's also made it clear that more pain is coming if Iran doesn't back down.

The world is now holding its breath to see if Iran's rulers will choose peace — or face even more devastating American firepower.

OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER BY THE NUMBERS:

• 7 B-2 stealth bombers deployed • 14 bunker buster bombs dropped • 30+ Tomahawk cruise missiles fired • 3 nuclear facilities destroyed • 20 hours round-trip flight time • $2.2 billion cost per B-2 bomber • 300 feet depth of Fordow facility • 60% uranium enrichment level at Fordow

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Sources

1. Associated Press. "US inserts itself into Israel's war with Iran, strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites." June 22, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579

2. Fox News. "US strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites, Trump announces." June 22, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/israel-iran-conflict-june-21-2025

3. NPR. "U.S. strikes 3 nuclear sites in Iran, in major regional conflict escalation." June 22, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/21/nx-s1-5441127/iran-us-strike-nuclear-trump

4. Al Jazeera. "US bombs Iran's nuclear sites: What we know so far." June 22, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/22/us-bombs-irans-nuclear-sites-what-we-know-so-far

5. CBS News. "U.S. launches strikes on 3 Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump says." June 22, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-launches-strikes-iranian-nuclear-facilities-trump-says/

6. CNN. "Live updates: US strikes Iranian nuclear sites as Iran-Israel conflict continues." June 22, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-conflict-06-22-25-intl-hnk

7. CNBC. "World leaders react after Trump says U.S. has bombed 3 nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordo." June 21, 2025. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/21/world-leaders-react-after-trump-says-us-has-bombed-3-nuclear-sites-in-iran-including-fordo.html

8. PBS NewsHour. "What to know about the 3 Iranian nuclear sites that were hit by U.S. strikes." June 22, 2025. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-to-know-about-the-3-iranian-nuclear-sites-that-were-hit-by-u-s-strikes

9. CBS News. "Iran's Fordo nuclear facility has long been a focus of international concern." June 22, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-iran-war-fordo-nuclear-site/

10. The Washington Post. "The GBU-57 MOP is a crucial weapon if the U.S. strikes Iran." June 18, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/17/massive-ordnance-penetrator-iran-bunker-buster/

11. Newsweek. "Satellite Images Show 'Unusual' Activity at Iran Nuclear Site Before Strikes." June 22, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/iran-nuclear-strikes-us-donald-trump-fordow-satellite-imagery-unusual-activity-2088918

12. Scientific American. "Why This Is the Only Bomb That Could Destroy Iran's Nuclear Bunker—Under 300 Feet of Rock." June 19, 2025. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-massive-ordnance-penetrator-bomb-israel-wants-to-destroy-irans-fordo/

 

U.S. deploys devastating 'bunker buster' bombs against Iran's nuclear program in unprecedented escalation

Trump authorizes direct military action targeting three facilities as Middle East conflict reaches dangerous new phase

In the style of  The Washington Post June 22, 2025

President Trump authorized the most significant U.S. military action against Iran in decades early Sunday, deploying the Pentagon's most powerful conventional weapons to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities in what administration officials described as a decisive effort to cripple Tehran's uranium enrichment capabilities.

The pre-dawn operation, which Trump called "Operation Midnight Hammer," marked America's direct entry into the escalating Israel-Iran conflict and represented the first combat use of the military's massive 30,000-pound "bunker buster" bombs — weapons specifically designed to destroy heavily fortified underground targets like Iran's nuclear facilities.

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump wrote on Truth Social early Sunday. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."

The strikes dramatically escalated a conflict that began June 13 when Israel launched what it called preemptive attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran has retaliated with missile barrages against Israeli cities, prompting fears of a broader regional war that could draw in the United States and other allies.

A military operation years in the making

The Sunday operation utilized weapons and tactics that defense officials have spent more than a decade developing specifically for Iran's most challenging targets, according to current and former Pentagon officials.

The centerpiece was the deployment of the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, known within military circles as the MOP — a 30,000-pound precision-guided bomb designed to destroy targets buried hundreds of feet underground.

Air Force Chief Dan Caine said in a Sunday briefing that 14 "bunker buster" bombs were dropped from B-2 stealth bombers on at least two nuclear sites, including Fordow. The heavily fortified Fordow facility, buried under a mountain and protected by anti-aircraft batteries, appears designed to withstand airstrikes.

Isfahan, the last to be hit, was targeted with a barrage of more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles launched from a U.S. submarine, Caine said. A senior U.S. official told Fox News that the strike on Isfahan may have been the most challenging of the three targets, even more so than the widely discussed Fordow site.

The precision required for the operation was extraordinary. When dropped from 50,000 feet, the cruising ceiling for the B-2 Spirit bomber, the GBU-57/B uses sophisticated fins to guide it to its target. The impact delivers 800 to 900 megajoules of kinetic energy — comparable to a 285-ton Boeing 747-400 touching down at 170 mph.

Targeting Iran's nuclear crown jewel

The operation's primary target was Fordow, a facility that has long represented Iran's most protected nuclear asset and the site international weapons inspectors believe could be central to any Iranian weapons program.

Buried deep in a mountain, Fordow is where many analysts believe Iran has concealed clandestine efforts to work toward a nuclear weapons capability. Multiple sources told CBS News earlier this week that Trump has been briefed on both the risks and benefits of bombing Fordow, and his mindset is that disabling it is necessary because of the risk of weapons being produced in a relatively short period of time.

The facility presented unique challenges that only American military technology could overcome. Military experts have said it could likely only be targeted by "bunker buster" bombs such as the latest GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb in the American arsenal. The U.S. has only configured and programed its B-2 Spirit stealth bomber to deliver that bomb, according to the Air Force.

A 2012 Congressional Research Service briefing found that the GBU-57/B has been reported to burrow through 200 feet of concrete or bedrock with a density of 5,000 pounds per square inch. Defense officials have said the MOP is capable of penetrating up to 200 feet, but it is probably more capable now after further development over the past two decades.

The weapons that changed everything

The bombs deployed Sunday represent the culmination of a Pentagon program that began after the 2003 Iraq invasion, when military officials concluded that existing weapons were insufficient to destroy deeply buried targets.

The MOP measures about 20.5 feet in length and 31.5 inches in diameter, weighing in at just under 30,000 pounds, including about 5,300 pounds of explosive material. The Air Force says that the MOP's explosive power is over 10 times that of its predecessor, the BLU-109.

Boeing developed the GBU-57, and as of 2015, the aerospace company had been contracted to produce 20 of them. The limited arsenal means Sunday's operation likely consumed a significant portion of America's bunker-busting capability.

Around seven of America's 19 operational B2s were used in the Iran operation, according to defense officials. Each B-2 can carry two GBU-57s, meaning the aircraft flew multiple sorties to deliver the reported 14 bombs.

Assessing the damage

Initial satellite imagery suggests the strikes achieved their intended effects, though the full extent of damage to underground facilities remains unclear.

Satellite images taken Sunday analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to the entryways to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordow after U.S. strikes. Satellite imagery also showed significant changes to the color of the mountainside where the site is housed, indicating a vast area was covered with a layer of grey ash in the aftermath of the strikes.

At Natanz, Iran's main enrichment facility, satellite imagery captured by Maxar showed multiple damaged buildings at the site, while the IAEA said the aboveground part of the facility had been "destroyed," along with power infrastructure there.

However, determining the full impact on Iran's nuclear program will take time. "The nature of the facility at Fordow—under a mountain—means that the success of the operation is not immediately apparent," said Matthew Savill, the director of military sciences at the influential British think tank the Royal United Services Institute.

Iran's defiant response

Iranian officials immediately condemned the strikes while downplaying their effectiveness. Mehdi Mohammadi, an adviser to the chairman of the Iranian parliament, claimed that Iranian authorities had evacuated the Fordow facility in advance.

"Iran has been expecting strikes on Fordow for several days. This nuclear facility was evacuated, no irreversible damage was sustained during today's attack," Mohammadi said.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of betraying diplomacy, saying it will face "everlasting consequences" after it joined Israel in its air campaign. Iran fired around 30 missiles at Israel early Sunday morning, with four making it through the country's missile defense systems and causing injuries and extensive damage.

International alarm grows

The strikes have prompted urgent calls for de-escalation from allies and adversaries alike, with many expressing concern about the precedent of attacking nuclear facilities.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the U.S. strikes on Iran represent a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region, posing a serious threat to global peace and security.

China strongly condemned the U.S. attack on Iran and on nuclear facilities supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying the move seriously violates the United Nations Charter and worsens tensions in the Middle East.

"Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran – including Fordow – the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time," the agency said. The IAEA announced an emergency meeting for Monday to assess the situation.

Questions about lasting impact

Defense experts remain divided about whether the strikes will achieve their stated goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Ali Vaez, director of the International Crisis Group's Iran Project, says intelligence estimates are that a successful U.S. attack would likely simply set Iran's nuclear program back by a year or two — not stop it for good.

"How do you bomb scientific knowledge out of the head of a scientific community?" asked Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The strikes also raise questions about Trump's broader Middle East strategy. The president had campaigned on avoiding new military entanglements in the region, but Trump has also said it is paramount that Iran never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Speaking from the White House Saturday night, Trump warned Iran against retaliation while leaving the door open for diplomacy. "Remember, there are many targets left," Trump said, while also calling for Iran to "make peace".

The operation marks a watershed moment in U.S.-Iran relations and sets a new precedent for American willingness to use its most advanced conventional weapons. Whether it succeeds in its ultimate goal — preventing Iranian nuclear weapons development — may not be known for months or years.

Dan Lamothe, Alex Horton and Karen DeYoung contributed to this report.

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Sources

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