Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, has confirmed that the country’s nuclear installations sustained significant damage from recent US airstrikes. In an interview with Al Jazeera TV, Baghaei stated, “Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure.” However, he refrained from providing further details, citing ongoing assessments of the situation.
The US strikes, carried out on June 22, targeted three key nuclear facilities in Iran: Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. The operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” involved 14 GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) “bunker buster” bombs delivered by Northrop B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles fired from a submarine.
Details of the Strikes
- Natanz Enrichment Facility: Located 135 miles southeast of Tehran, this site was heavily damaged in the strikes. Iran’s main enrichment site had already been targeted by Israeli airstrikes, and the US strikes further exacerbated the damage.
- Fordow Enrichment Facility: Situated 60 miles southwest of Tehran, this facility is buried under a mountain and protected by anti-aircraft batteries. The US used “bunker buster” bombs to target this site.
- Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center: This facility employs thousands of nuclear scientists and hosts research reactors. The strikes on this site have raised concerns about the potential long-term impact on Iran’s nuclear program.¹ ²
International Reaction
The strikes have sparked a heated debate about their impact and the future of Iran’s nuclear program. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concern, describing the strikes as a “dangerous escalation.” The US has defended the strikes, with President Donald Trump claiming they were “very successful” and had “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities.³
Iran’s Response
Iran has condemned the strikes as a “reckless violation” of international law and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Baghaei emphasized that the attacks were a “detrimental blow” to global nuclear governance. Tehran is expected to allow IAEA inspectors to assess the damage and radiation levels at the affected sites.