"U.S. Airstrikes Hit Iran’s Nuclear Facilities – Operation Midnight Hammer Explained

Operation Midnight Hammer – U.S. Strikes on Iran (June 22, 2025)

The U.S. deployed 30,000‑lb GBU‑57 bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles against Iran’s key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—an action officially known as Operation Midnight Hammer .

The Pentagon claims the strikes inflicted “extremely severe damage”, with Natanz reportedly “destroyed” and the other two sites suffering major damage .

Israeli intelligence reportedly assessed that Iran’s Fordow site was rendered inoperable .

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Discrepancies in Damage Assessments

A leaked U.S. DIA intelligence report suggested the damage, while significant, may only delay Iran’s nuclear capabilities by months, not years .

In contrast, CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that “a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran's Nuclear Program has been severely damaged... would have to be rebuilt over the course of years” .

Senior Pentagon officials caution that long-term impact hinges on subsurface structure and ease of repair .

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Current Program Status & Context

Iran significantly accelerated uranium enrichment before the strikes—reaching ~60% purity, close to weapons-grade, and stockpiling enough for potential rapid weaponization .

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also revealed past undeclared nuclear weaponization tests by Iran, such as implosion experiments .

Despite all this, no verifiable evidence exists that Iran carried out an underground nuclear detonation today or at any time in the past month.

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✅ Summary

Claim Verdict

Iran tested a nuclear bomb today ❌ No evidence
Iran’s program was hit ✅ Yes, U.S. and Israeli strikes
Level of damage 🔄 Disputed — months vs. years delay
Iran’s past weapon testing ✅ Implosion tests noted in IAEA reports
Current enrichment status ✅ 60% uranium enrichment in tens-hundreds kg

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📰 Key Takeaway

What did happen: targeted airstrikes by the U.S. disrupted Iran’s nuclear sites—and while damage is substantial, intelligence is divided on whether Iran’s program is set back by months or by years. Crucially, there is no indication Iran conducted any atomic test today.