On June 22, 2025, U.S. forces launched a significant airstrike campaign, dropping five to six bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility and targeting other sites, escalating the Israel-Iran conflict.
President Donald Trump announced that U.S. B-2 stealth bombers dropped five to six 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) on the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, buried under a mountain south of Tehran. At the same time, 30 Tomahawk missiles struck Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites, per Reuters.
Trump referred to the operation as a “spectacular success,” asserting that it “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, according to NBC News. An Iranian official, speaking to the Tasnim news agency, confirmed that there was damage to the Fordow facility but emphasised that nuclear activities are still ongoing. No immediate reports of casualties or comprehensive assessments of the damage were verified.
The coordinated strikes with Israel followed a week of Israeli attacks that began on June 13, resulting in the deaths of 657 people in Iran, including 263 civilians. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks that killed 25 people in Israel and left 1,272 injured. Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, reported full coordination with Washington, and President Trump spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the strikes.
Trump’s decision came just days before his self-imposed two-week deadline to determine U.S. involvement in Israel’s campaign. In a post on Truth Social, he confirmed that all U.S. planes returned safely and congratulated the “American Warriors.” During a planned Oval Office address at 10 p.m. ET, Trump was expected to indicate that there would be no further immediate strikes. The White House also contacted Iran to clarify that there was no intention of pursuing regime change.
European diplomatic efforts in Geneva on June 20, led by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, failed to restart nuclear talks, as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected negotiations under attack. Trump dismissed European mediation, stating, “Iran wants to speak to us, not Europe.”
Fox News host Sean Hannity said President Trump told him the U.S. used “five to six” bunker-buster bombs in its attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear site. https://t.co/wO3NzKCYG7
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 22, 2025UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of an “uncontrollable fire,” urging de-escalation, per UN News. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi clarified Iran’s 60% uranium enrichment lacks weaponisation evidence, countering claims of imminent nuclear capability.
Read: Israel Claims Iran’s Nuclear Program Delayed by 2 Years Amid Ongoing Strikes
In the U.S., Republican Senator John Thune praised the strikes, while Bernie Sanders and Thomas Massie called them unconstitutional. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch emphasised, “This is Israel’s war, not ours,” ruling out U.S. ground troops.
