The USA has launched airstrikes towards Iran’s key nuclear enrichment websites, deploying B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to ship beforehand unused 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.
In a televised tackle late on 21 June, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the assault, stating that the Fordow Gasoline Enrichment Plant, Natanz Nuclear Facility, and an unnamed web site in Isfahan had been focused utilizing a mix of air-dropped GBU-57A/B Large Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. submarines.
President Trump claimed the operation was a “spectacular navy success,” saying, “Fordow is gone… All planes are actually outdoors of Iranian airspace. A full payload of bombs was dropped on the first web site.” Based on CNN, six B-2 bombers had been concerned, dropping a complete of 12 MOPs on Fordow alone—delivering over 180 tonnes of ordnance.
This marks the primary time the GBU-57 has been utilized in fight. The precision-guided bombs are designed to destroy deeply buried targets, equivalent to fortified nuclear websites, and solely the B-2 bomber is able to carrying them.
The Pentagon has not but launched an official assertion detailing the extent of harm, however Iranian state media confirmed that elements of the Fordow facility had been hit at roughly 2:30 a.m. native time. The Atomic Vitality Group of Iran described the strike as “a barbaric act that violated worldwide legislation”, although it added that radiation monitoring confirmed no indicators of contamination on the affected websites.
Iran’s Disaster Administration Headquarters reported “no hazard to the folks of Qom and the encircling space”, the place Fordow is situated.
Trump’s unilateral motion drew blended reactions in Washington. Most Congressional Republicans expressed assist for the strikes, whereas many Democrats and a few Republicans questioned their legality, arguing that the President had not obtained congressional authorisation for navy motion.
The broader worldwide response has been one in all concern, with analysts warning of unpredictable Iranian retaliation. The area had already been on excessive alert following Israeli airstrikes on 12 June. U.S. bases within the Center East had been bracing for reprisals, and B-2 bombers had been lately deployed to Guam in anticipation of potential operations.
Regardless of earlier indicators that diplomatic choices remained on the desk, Trump’s choice seems to have been influenced by pressing appeals from Israeli leaders, who reportedly informed the White Home they may not await prolonged negotiations.
ABC Information reported that the assault carefully mirrored a joint U.S.-Israeli train carried out in 2024, which simulated a strike on hardened nuclear websites. Axios famous that high Republicans in Congress had been briefed upfront of the operation, however high Democrats weren’t.
Iran’s nuclear programme has lengthy been some extent of competition between Tehran and Western powers. Whereas the U.S. intelligence group has beforehand said it doesn’t assess Iran to be actively pursuing nuclear weapons, Trump has maintained that Iran should be prevented from buying such functionality in any respect prices.
President Trump warned in a Fact Social submit following the strikes: “Any retaliation by Iran towards the US of America might be met with power far better than what was witnessed tonight.”
Safety was heightened in main U.S. cities in response to fears of retaliatory assaults. In the meantime, Israel briefly closed its airspace, signalling concern about escalation.