Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reported that U.S. airstrikes “seriously and heavily damaged” Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, though the full extent remains unclear. President Trump claimed the strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.
The U.S. launched Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025, targeting Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites with B-2 stealth bombers dropping 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs and Tomahawk missiles. Araqchi told CBS News, “No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow,” but confirmed significant damage, with Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation assessing further. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows six craters and debris at Fordow, suggesting strikes targeted ventilation shafts rather than tunnel entrances.
Trump asserted on Truth Social that Fordow was “completely obliterated.” Still, a leaked Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, cited by The Washington Post, suggests the strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program by months, not years, with core components like centrifuges intact. Iranian officials, including Hassan Abedini, claimed key materials, including 900 pounds of 60% enriched uranium, were evacuated beforehand, minimising losses. The IAEA reported no radiation leaks, but experts, such as David Albright, note uncertainty about potential underground damage.
US bombing "seriously damaged" Iran's Fordow nuclear site, FM says – https://t.co/OG7ysSn5bS
— Reuters Iran (@ReutersIran) July 2, 2025Fordow, buried 80–90 meters under the Zagros mountains, is Iran’s most fortified nuclear site, designed to enrich uranium. The U.S. used 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, but their 200-foot penetration may not have reached Fordow’s deepest halls. Iran’s reported evacuation of uranium and ongoing secret facilities raise concerns about its nuclear resilience. The strikes, following Israel’s earlier attacks, escalate regional tensions, with Iran launching retaliatory missiles, wounding 16 in Israel.
Read: U.S. Dropped 5-6 Bunker-Buster Bombs on Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Plant, Trump Says
The U.S. bombing of Fordow highlights the challenges of targeting deeply buried nuclear sites and the limits of military action in halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Conflicting narratives from Trump and Iran fuel global debate, while the risk of escalation impacts Middle East stability and oil markets via the Strait of Hormuz. This event underscores the need for accurate intelligence and diplomatic solutions to address Iran’s nuclear program.
