U.S. Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites in Bold Operation ‘Midnight Hammer’

Tehran/Washington, June 23, 2025 — Tensions in the Middle East have surged following a bold and highly coordinated U.S. military operation over the weekend, targeting three of Iran’s most sensitive nuclear facilities. The strike, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, was launched amid growing hostilities between Iran and Israel, and is said to have set back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions significantly, according to senior American defense officials.

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🎯 Targeted Sites: Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that three key Iranian nuclear sites were hit during the operation:

• Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant: A heavily fortified underground facility near Qom.

• Natanz Nuclear Complex: Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility.

• Isfahan Nuclear Research Center: Involved in uranium conversion and other nuclear-related activities.

These sites have long been central to concerns surrounding Iran’s potential development of nuclear weapons.

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🛩️ Operation Midnight Hammer: Details of the Strike

The operation was executed with extraordinary precision and scale. According to U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, the strike involved:

• 125 military aircraft, including seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers

• Two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, launched from a submerged U.S. Navy submarine in the region

• A total of 75 precision-guided weapons used during the mission

The mission timeline was tightly coordinated:

• Strike window: Between 22:40 and 23:05 GMT Saturday (02:40–03:05 local time Sunday in Tehran)

• Flight duration: Aircraft flew an 18-hour mission from U.S. bases

• Deception tactics: Some jets flew toward the Pacific as a decoy, while others cleared Iranian airspace ahead of the bombers

“This was a strategic strike to delay Iran’s nuclear breakout capability,” Gen. Caine stated in a press briefing on Sunday.

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🧪 What Was the U.S. Objective?

According to U.S. intelligence assessments, the primary goal was to cripple Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure and send a clear signal following a series of escalating tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and Israel earlier this month.

Senior defense officials say the mission aimed to:

• Deter further nuclear development

• Undermine Iran’s military confidence

• Reassert U.S. influence in the region amid rising instability

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🇮🇷 Iran’s Response: “We Will Decide the Time and Place”

Iran has not yet formally retaliated but warned that a response is imminent. A statement from the Supreme National Security Council of Iran condemned the attack, calling it an "act of aggression that will not go unanswered."

“The Islamic Republic reserves its right to respond in kind. We will decide the time and place,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani.

Iran has reportedly placed its air defense systems on high alert and begun diplomatic outreach to China and Russia.

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🌍 Global Reactions and Implications

The international community is watching closely, as analysts warn this incident could trigger a wider regional conflict.

• Israel has not commented directly on the strike but welcomed "all efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear threat."

• Russia and China have condemned the U.S. action, calling it a violation of Iran’s sovereignty.

• European Union officials urged restraint and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

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🧭 What Comes Next?

While the immediate military objective appears to have been achieved, the long-term consequences remain uncertain. The U.S. believes Iran’s nuclear program has been “significantly degraded,” but experts caution that Tehran could rebuild and accelerate its efforts out of retaliation.

“We’ve bought time, but we may have escalated the threat,” said nuclear policy analyst Dr. Leila Haddad.

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📝 Summary

• Operation Name: Midnight Hammer

• Date: June 22–23, 2025

• Targeted Sites: Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan

• Forces Involved: 125 U.S. aircraft, 24 cruise missiles, 7 B-2 bombers

• Objective: Disrupt Iran’s nuclear capabilities amid Israel-Iran conflict

• Status: No Iranian retaliation yet, but tensions remain high