On June 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces conducted airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran. The operation targeted sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, which are central to Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear activities. Trump shared the news on Truth Social, describing the mission as highly successful. He stated that all U.S. planes left Iranian airspace safely after dropping a full load of bombs, with the Fordow site as the primary focus. Trump praised the U.S. military, calling it unmatched globally, and urged for peace following the strikes.
The U.S. Air Force deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, which carried 30,000-pound GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs. These weapons are designed to destroy deeply buried, fortified targets like the Fordow facility, which is built inside a mountain. The B-2, a top-tier stealth aircraft, can carry up to 40,000 pounds of weapons, including nuclear and conventional bombs. Operated by a two-person crew, it has unlimited range with mid-air refueling. Only 20 B-2 bombers are in service, based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, each costing about $2 billion. The aircraft first saw combat in Kosovo in 1999 and has since been used in missions in Afghanistan, Yemen, and now Iran.
The strikes come amid rising tensions in the Middle East, driven by recent clashes between Israel and Iran and concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, especially after the 2015 nuclear deal fell apart. The Fordow site has long worried Western nations due to its potential for producing weapons-grade material. U.S. defense officials confirmed the operation was precise, with no reported losses of American aircraft.
Iran denounced the airstrikes as illegal under international law and vowed to press forward with its nuclear program. Global leaders are now bracing for possible Iranian retaliation, which could further destabilize the region. While Trump framed the operation as a show of strength to deter Iran, he also called for diplomatic efforts to avoid broader conflict. The strikes mark one of the most significant U.S.-Iran confrontations in recent years, raising questions about the path ahead for both nations and the world.
