On June 21, 2025, the United States conducted airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The operation, dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," involved seven B-2 bombers and over 125 military aircraft, deploying 75 precision-guided munitions, including 14 bunker-buster bombs and more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles. The strikes focused on three key nuclear sites, with significant damage reported at Iran's Fordow enrichment facility.
Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, emphasized that the strikes were not aimed at regime change but at neutralizing Iran's nuclear program. Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, Vance stated, "We don't want a regime change. We want to end their nuclear program and discuss a long-term settlement." Hegseth, addressing reporters at the Pentagon, described the mission as a "precision operation" to eliminate threats to U.S. national interests. Rubio, on CBS's Face the Nation, warned Iran against retaliation, calling it a potential "severe mistake," but clarified that no further strikes were planned unless provoked.
However, President Donald Trump appeared to diverge from his administration's stance. In a post on Truth Social on June 22, he wrote, "It’s not politically correct to use the term 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" This statement raised questions among U.S. lawmakers about the operation's ultimate goals and legality, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Initial assessments by General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicated "extremely severe damage" to all three targeted sites. However, Rafael Grossi, head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, noted that the extent of underground damage at Fordow remains unclear. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of Iran's highly enriched uranium, refined to 60%, was moved to an undisclosed location prior to the attack.
Iran responded with a missile barrage on Israel, causing injuries and property damage in Tel Aviv. Despite threats to target U.S. bases or disrupt global oil shipments through its waters, Iran has so far refrained from further escalation. The U.S. has bolstered defenses for its nearly 40,000 troops in the region, including air defense systems and warships.
The strikes follow over 20 months of regional conflicts, including wars in Gaza and Lebanon and the fall of Syria's dictator. The operation, known to only a small circle in Washington and U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, marks a significant departure from Trump's stated aversion to major foreign military interventions. Sporadic anti-war protests occurred in U.S. cities, including New York and Washington, on June 22.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reported intelligence suggesting Iran could develop a nuclear weapon in weeks or months if it chose to, though this claim is contested by some lawmakers and experts. Rubio dismissed the relevance of whether Iran's Supreme Leader had ordered weaponization, focusing instead on the strikes' objective of dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities.