Donald Trump · Republican · Military Action
U.S. Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Sites ('Operation Midnight Hammer')
Jun 22, 2025
Donald TrumpForeign PolicyMilitary ActionSecond term (2025–)
📜 View the official record on federalregister.gov
What happened
U.S. B-2 bombers struck three Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — amid the Israel-Iran war. Iran fired missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar; a ceasefire followed on June 24.
How it happened
Presidential order for a one-night strike using seven B-2 bombers from Missouri with bunker-buster bombs.
Documented impact
Positive impactcontested
Administration said the sites were 'obliterated' and the program set back ~1-2 years.
The Pentagon claimed major damage; a ceasefire took hold days later without a wider U.S.-Iran war.
Negative impactcontested
Early intelligence and outside analysts disputed the damage.
An early U.S. intel assessment and independent reports suggested core components survived and the setback may have been months, not years; Fordow was 'seriously damaged but not destroyed.'
Mixed impactsubstantiated
Conducted without congressional authorization.
The strikes reignited debate over presidential war powers and the absence of a congressional vote.
Public opinion
📊 Public opinion
U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites
Approve35%
Disapprove46%
Snap polls ranged 35–44% approve; all showed more opposed than in favor (CBS/YouGov: 44–56).
Sources
Every claim above links to its source. Primary record and cited reporting: