In a high-impact military action, the United States, under President Donald Trump’s command, carried out an airstrike on June 21, 2025, targeting three nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The offensive, announced by Trump in a message posted at 8:00 PM in Washington (9:00 PM in Brasília), involved precise bombings that, according to the president, completely destroyed the targeted structures, with a particular focus on the Fordow plant, located in a mountain near Qom. Described as a surgical operation, the attack saw all aircraft return safely, though no details were confirmed about the models used or the weapons employed. The action takes place amid the Israel-Iran conflict, which began on June 13, and aims to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities, seen as a threat by Washington and Tel Aviv. Trump stated that the moment now is for seeking peace, but Iran vows to retaliate, heightening tensions in the Middle East.
Trump’s message, posted on social media, was direct and celebratory, highlighting the operation’s success and praising the U.S. military. He emphasized that no other army in the world could have executed such a mission. However, the lack of details about the attack’s logistics, such as the potential use of B-2 Spirit bombers that reportedly took off from Missouri toward Guam in the Pacific, raises questions. Fordow’s selection as the primary target is unsurprising: the facility, embedded 80-90 meters beneath a mountain, is one of the most fortified in Iran’s nuclear program and was designed to withstand airstrikes.
The offensive’s context is marked by weeks of escalation. Since June 13, Israel has conducted bombings against nuclear and military targets in Iran, including Natanz and Isfahan, claiming Tehran was close to developing nuclear weapons. Iran responded with over 100 drones and missiles targeting Israel, hitting cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa. The U.S. entry into the conflict, after Trump signaled possible intervention for two weeks, shifts the strategic landscape and raises the risk of a broader regional war.
Regional impact: Fears of escalation grow in the Middle East.
Main targets: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were the nuclear facilities hit.
Stated goal: Neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Immediate reaction: Iran vows retaliation, while Trump speaks of peace.
What happened in Fordow
The Fordow plant, located near Qom, is a cornerstone of Iran’s nuclear program. Built inside a mountain for protection against airstrikes, the facility houses advanced centrifuges capable of enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels. In March 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) detected uranium enriched to 83.7% at Fordow, a concerning level, though Iran insists its program is peaceful. If confirmed, Fordow’s destruction is a significant blow to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
The U.S. operation likely involved the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 13.6-ton bunker-busting bomb designed to penetrate up to 60 meters of rock or 18 meters of concrete. Only B-2 Spirit stealth bombers can carry this munition. The need for multiple strikes on the same point to neutralize Fordow suggests a highly complex mission, executed in Iranian airspace weakened by prior Israeli attacks that destroyed about 70% of Iran’s Russian-made S-300 air defenses.
The Pentagon has not yet released official details about the operation’s logistics, but flight tracking data indicates at least six B-2s took off from Missouri on the morning of June 21, accompanied by tanker aircraft, heading toward Guam. The naval base in Guam, in the Pacific, is strategic for Middle East operations, enabling in-flight refueling and rapid power projection. The absence of U.S. casualties reinforces Trump’s narrative of a flawless, surgical strike.
International reactions
The U.S. offensive sparked a wave of global reactions. Iran, through its Foreign Ministry, called the attack a “flagrant violation of international law” and promised “proportional responses.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that U.S. intervention would bring “irreparable damage” to Washington. Tehran has already appealed to the UN Security Council, demanding condemnation of the action.
Countries like China, Russia, and Bolivia criticized the operation, while Germany and the UK reiterated support for Israel’s right to self-defense but urged restraint to avoid escalation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern about the conflict spiraling out of control, especially after the collapse of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S., halted following Israel’s June 13 attacks.
- Iran: Vows retaliation and accuses U.S. of supporting “Zionist aggression.”
- UN: Warns of regional war risk.
- Europe: Splits between support for Israel and calls for moderation.
- Russia and China: Condemn action as a violation of international law.
Conflict background
The U.S. attack is the latest chapter in a war that began on June 13, when Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” a surprise offensive against Iranian nuclear and military facilities. The operation killed military leaders like Hossein Salami, head of the Revolutionary Guard, and Mohammad Bagheri, armed forces chief, as well as nuclear scientists. Israel justified the attacks, claiming Iran was days away from producing up to 15 nuclear warheads, an existential threat to the country.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks, hitting civilian and military targets in Israel. The exchanges severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, with Natanz suffering “serious damage” and Isfahan partially destroyed. Until the U.S. attack, Fordow had withstood Israeli bombings, which lacked weapons capable of penetrating its underground structures.
The U.S. entry, after weeks of Trump’s hesitation, reflects a strategic shift. During the election campaign, Trump criticized “endless wars” in the Middle East but also stated that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” Pressure from allies like Senator Lindsey Graham, who advocated for Fordow’s destruction as critical to national security, may have influenced the decision.
Military and strategic impact
If confirmed, Fordow’s destruction significantly hampers Iran’s ability to enrich uranium in the short term. The facility was central to Iran’s nuclear program, and its neutralization could delay the program by years. However, experts warn that Iran retains technical expertise and could rebuild capabilities elsewhere.
The operation also underscores U.S. technological superiority. The stealth B-2 Spirit and the GBU-57 MOP, designed specifically for targets like Fordow, demonstrate Washington’s global power projection. The lack of U.S. losses bolsters Trump’s claim of a perfect mission, but military success does not ensure regional stability.
- Nuclear capability: Fordow was key to uranium enrichment.
- U.S. technology: B-2 and GBU-57 are unique in the global arsenal.
- Remaining risks: Iran may pursue reconstruction or asymmetric retaliation.
What’s next
The U.S. attack raises tensions to a new level. Despite military setbacks, Iran retains retaliation capabilities through ballistic missiles, drones, and regional proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Potential attacks on U.S. or Israeli targets in the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz, through which 30% of the world’s oil passes, concern analysts.
Trump, by emphasizing peace, signals the operation was targeted, but Iran’s response could force escalation. European diplomats, led by France, are attempting mediation, but the failure of prior efforts by Turkey and Qatar suggests a challenging path. An emergency UN Security Council meeting, scheduled in the coming days, will be critical in shaping the conflict’s trajectory.
Iranian society, already strained by sanctions and internal protests, now faces the attacks’ fallout. Reports of explosions in Tehran and other cities, with civilian casualties, may increase pressure on the regime. In Israel, the population remains on high alert, with air raid sirens triggered regularly by Iranian drones.
