New Delhi : In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the United States launched a series of precision airstrikes, codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—on Saturday, June 22, 2025. Announced by President Donald Trump, the strikes were aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The operation has sparked global concern, with Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil chokepoint, raising fears of economic disruption and further military escalation.
Operation Midnight Hammer: A Tactical Overview
The U.S. military operation, executed with unprecedented precision, involved 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 stealth bombers, which dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)—30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs designed to penetrate deeply fortified targets. These bombs, used operationally for the first time, targeted the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, buried 80-90 meters under a mountain near Qom, and Natanz, Iran’s largest uranium enrichment center. Additionally, 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from a U.S. submarine targeting Isfahan, a major nuclear research complex. According to U.S. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the strikes occurred between 22:40 GMT and 23:05 GMT on Saturday, with no U.S. aircraft detected or targeted by Iranian defenses.
The operation employed sophisticated misdirection tactics. A group of B-2 bombers flew west toward Guam to divert attention, while the strike group flew east, supported by aerial refueling and escorted by stealth fighters and reconnaissance aircraft over Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the mission’s success, stating that the strikes caused “extremely severe damage and destruction” to the targeted sites, though a full assessment is ongoing. President Trump claimed the facilities were “totally obliterated,” a statement contested by Iranian officials and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which reported no off-site radiation, suggesting no significant release of radioactive material.
The Targeted Sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan
- Fordow: Iran’s most fortified nuclear site, embedded deep within a mountain, Fordow is critical for uranium enrichment. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies revealed six large craters at two entry points, with grey ash and debris scattered across the mountainside, indicating significant damage. The IAEA’s Rafael Grossi noted a “direct kinetic impact” but highlighted challenges in assessing underground damage. Iran claimed the site was evacuated beforehand, suggesting preparedness.
- Natanz: The largest nuclear enrichment center, Natanz houses six above-ground buildings and three underground structures with centrifuges for uranium enrichment. Prior Israeli strikes on June 13 damaged above-ground facilities and electrical infrastructure, potentially affecting underground centrifuges. The U.S. strikes added two craters (5.5m and 3.2m in diameter) above underground halls, as per Maxar imagery, though the extent of underground damage remains unclear.
- Isfahan: Home to Iran’s largest nuclear research complex, employing 3,000 scientists, Isfahan was hit by 30 Tomahawk missiles, targeting surface infrastructure and tunnel complexes suspected of storing enriched uranium. Satellite imagery showed 18 destroyed or partially destroyed structures and collapsed tunnel entrances, with the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) reporting severe damage to the uranium conversion facility.
Despite Trump’s claims, a Defense Intelligence Agency report, cited by CNN, suggested the strikes set Iran’s nuclear program back by months, not years, with infrastructure like centrifuge production remaining intact. Iranian official Hassan Abedini claimed the sites were evacuated, minimizing the impact, while the IAEA noted Iran’s nuclear knowledge persists.
Iran’s Response and the Strait of Hormuz Threat
Iran’s parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, a 167-km-long waterway narrowing to 33 km, through which 20% of global oil and LNG trade (approximately 20 million barrels daily) flows. This critical chokepoint connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, serving as the primary route for oil exports from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Iran. The decision awaits approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, with no closure enacted as of June 25, 2025. Shipping companies like Hapag-Lloyd report the strait remains open but on high alert.
Closing the Strait would have severe global implications:
- Global Energy Security: A closure could spike oil prices from $73 to $120 per barrel, triggering inflation and potentially causing a global recession, as per experts like Ramanan Krishnamoorti from the University of Houston.
- Impact on China: As Iran’s largest oil buyer, importing 5.4 million barrels daily through the strait, China would face significant disruptions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to dissuade Iran, highlighting its vulnerability.
- Impact on India: With 40% of its oil and 50% of its natural gas imports passing through the strait, India faces risks of a widened trade deficit, weakened rupee, and strained financial markets.
- Iran’s Economy: Iran, reliant on oil exports through the strait, would also suffer, with Vice President JD Vance calling closure “suicidal.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could deploy anti-ship missiles, naval mines, or unmanned vessels to disrupt shipping, similar to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. However, experts like Mohammad Ali Shabani suggest Iran may hesitate due to economic self-interest and the risk of U.S. retaliation.
Potential Iranian Retaliation
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghehi vowed a “proportionate response,” with options including:
- Attacks on U.S. Bases: With 40,000 U.S. troops across 19 regional sites, Iran could target bases in Iraq (2,500 troops) or elsewhere, as seen in the 2020 missile attack on Ayn al-Asad, which caused traumatic brain injuries but no deaths.
- Proxy Attacks: Despite Hezbollah’s weakened state, Iran could activate militias in Iraq or Yemen’s Houthis, who threatened to resume Red Sea attacks.
- Asymmetric Measures: Analysts like David Sanger and Maj. Gen. James Marks suggest Iran may resort to cyberattacks or terrorism, leveraging its global influence to target U.S. interests.
- Nuclear Escalation: Experts like Trita Parsi warn Iran may race to build a nuclear bomb, potentially withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran’s stockpile of 400 kg of 60% enriched uranium could yield 10 nuclear weapons if enriched to 90%.
Iran’s initial response was a missile barrage on Tel Aviv and Haifa, injuring 86, with Israel retaliating by targeting Fordow’s access routes and Evin prison’s gates.
Secret Nuclear Sites?
A 2018 Israeli intelligence operation suggested undeclared nuclear sites, but no concrete evidence of operational facilities has emerged. The IAEA monitors Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, reporting no radiation leaks post-strikes. Iran’s claim of evacuating materials from Fordow raises questions about unmonitored stockpiles, possibly stored in secret locations, though unverified.
Global Reaction
- U.S. Allies: The UK, France, and Australia supported the strikes, citing Iran’s nuclear threat, but urged diplomacy. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized de-escalation, while Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba called for halting Iran’s nuclear development.
- Gulf States: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait expressed concern, urging a ceasefire to avoid catastrophic escalation.
- Russia and China: Russia’s Vladimir Putin condemned the strikes as a violation of international law, while China criticized the U.S. but remained silent on the Strait’s closure, reflecting its economic interests.
- UN and EU: UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the strikes a “dangerous escalation,” and EU’s Kaja Kallas urged negotiations.
- U.S. Domestic Response: Republicans supported Trump, while Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries criticized the lack of congressional consultation, warning of a “disastrous war.”
Context and Implications
The strikes follow Israel’s Operation Rising Lion on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites after claims Iran was nearing a nuclear bomb. Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018, had initiated talks in April 2025, offering a 60-day window for a deal. The failure of Geneva talks with European mediators, coupled with Iran’s refusal to negotiate under Israeli attacks, prompted the U.S. action. Trump denies regime change as the goal, but his social media posts hint at it, raising fears of prolonged conflict.
The strikes have not eliminated Iran’s nuclear threat. Its technical expertise and enriched uranium stockpiles persist, potentially accelerating a nuclear arms race. The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint, with global economies—particularly China, India, and the U.S.—bracing for disruptions. As Iran weighs its response, the world watches, hoping for diplomacy to avert a wider war.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was Operation Midnight Hammer?
Operation Midnight Hammer was a U.S. military operation on June 22, 2025, targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. It involved 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 stealth bombers dropping 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (bunker-busting bombs) and 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a submarine. The strikes aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear program, with President Donald Trump claiming the sites were “totally obliterated,” though the IAEA and Iranian officials dispute the extent of the damage.
2. Does Iran have secret nuclear sites?
The U.S. targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment and research facilities. A 2018 Israeli intelligence operation suggested undeclared sites, but no concrete evidence of operational secret facilities has been confirmed. The IAEA monitors the known sites and reported no radiation leaks post-strikes. Iran’s claim of evacuating materials from Fordow hints at possible unmonitored stockpiles, but this remains unverified.
3. Will Iran close the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran’s parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway handling 20% of global oil trade, in retaliation for the U.S. strikes. However, as of June 25, 2025, the strait remains open, pending approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Closing it could spike oil prices, disrupt global economies (especially China and India), and harm Iran’s own oil exports, leading experts to call it a “suicidal” move.
4. What are the global implications of closing the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, carries 20 million barrels of oil daily (20% of global consumption). A closure could raise oil prices from $73 to $120 per barrel, triggering inflation and a potential global recession. China, importing 5.4 million barrels daily, and India, reliant on 40% of its oil and 50% of its gas through the strait, would face severe disruptions, alongside increased U.S. consumer prices.
5. How might Iran retaliate against the U.S. strikes?
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghehi vowed a “proportionate response.” Options include attacking U.S. bases in the region (40,000 troops across 19 sites), activating proxies like Iraqi militias or Yemen’s Houthis, launching cyberattacks or terrorism, or racing to build a nuclear bomb, potentially withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran’s initial response was a missile attack on Israel, injuring 86, indicating a focus on Israel for now, but broader retaliation remains possible.
