Operation Midnight Hammer Severely Damages Iran’s Nuclear Facilities, Pentagon Claims

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that U.S. bombing raids on Iran’s nuclear facilities have delayed Tehran’s atomic program by one to two years, calling the mission “historically successful.”

Operation Midnight Hammer began overnight on June 20, when seven B-2 Spirit bombers dropped more than a dozen bunker-buster bombs on Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. 

The Pentagon said the strikes targeted key components and infrastructure necessary for building a nuclear bomb, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declaring the sites “completely obliterated.”

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell highlighted that the 36-hour mission, which involved over 125 aircraft and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles, not only caused physical damage but also took a “strong psychological toll” on Iran’s leadership.

However, initial intelligence reports suggested Iran had moved some enriched uranium before the attack. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed Iran could resume enrichment within months, noting damage was “severe but not total.”

Despite this, Pentagon officials insist the strikes have significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear capabilities and possibly even its ambition to build a nuclear weapon, underscoring the mission’s impact on both Iran’s program and regional stability.