U.S. Launches Massive Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites with Bunker-Busting Bombs and Cruise Missiles

The United States executed a significant and synchronized military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday night, signaling a decisive shift from diplomatic efforts to the use of direct military action. President Donald Trump has given the green light for military action targeting three key nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The operation featured a range of sophisticated U.S. weaponry, including stealth B-2 bombers, Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from Navy submarines, and 30,000-pound GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs, all targeting Iran’s capacity to enrich uranium and possibly develop nuclear arms.

Fordow, Iran's most secure nuclear facility, is located almost 300 feet beneath a mountain near Qom. The U.S. deployed 12 GBU-57 bunker-busting bombs from a fleet of six B-2 bombers targeting the underground centrifuge halls of the facility.

Recent analysis of satellite imagery by CNN and Maxar Technologies has uncovered six large craters along the mountain ridge above the complex, indicating a direct impact. The presence of ash and discoloration on the mountainside indicates significant damage to the surface area.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, has verified a “direct kinetic impact.” He further noted that due to the type of payload involved and the delicate nature of centrifuges, “very significant damage is expected.”

Authorities, such as David Albright from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), reached a consensus. “The complete annihilation of the underground hall is entirely feasible,” Albright stated, even as Iranian officials described the damage as “superficial.”

The Natanz facility, previously harmed in a June 13 raid by Israel, faced another assault—this time involving U.S. B-2 bombers and 30 cruise missiles.

Recent satellite imagery reveals the emergence of two new craters above the underground sections of the site. The IAEA has indicated that prior damage to the electrical systems might have affected centrifuge operations, and additional disruptions from U.S. strikes could have worsened the situation.

Natanz hosts some of Iran's most sophisticated uranium enrichment facilities. The full extent of the underground damage remains uncertain, but the arrangement of the craters suggests a deliberate effort to bring down the cascade halls used for uranium enrichment.

The most significant visible destruction was observed at Isfahan, Iran's central nuclear research facility. Recent satellite imagery reveals that at least 18 structures have been either destroyed or damaged, accompanied by extensive debris and signs of fire damage.

Isfahan is home to facilities that play a crucial role in the process of converting uranium into gas for enrichment, a vital step in the nuclear fuel cycle. Albright indicated that U.S. forces probably focused on tunnels housing enriched uranium, with the objective of eliminating material enriched to levels of 20% and 60%, which are just below weapons-grade.

Analysts have determined that the conversion facilities suffered significant damage, indicating that a crucial element of Iran's nuclear pipeline has been effectively compromised by the U.S.

Iran’s foreign minister has claimed that the U.S. has crossed a significant threshold. However, the overall reaction from Tehran has been subdued, minimizing the extent of the damage, despite satellite images suggesting a different story.

Analysts have pointed out that Iran has a history of downplaying the effects of external attacks, frequently driven by political motivations. “Initial denials warrant a critical perspective,” stated munitions expert N.R. Jenzen-Jones.

As the world observes, these strikes mark a crucial shift in U.S. stance regarding Iran’s nuclear goals, and the real effects—both in terms of technology and global politics—will become clearer in the days ahead.