US Joins Israel in Striking Iran’s Nuclear Sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan Hit

In a significant escalation of the Middle East conflict, the United States has joined Israel in launching coordinated strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that U.S. forces carried out a “very successful attack” using B-2 stealth bombers equipped with bunker buster bombs and submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. Trump declared that the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear site has been “completely obliterated” and that all targeted nuclear enrichment facilities were “utterly and totally destroyed”.

The strikes mark a major intensification of hostilities between Iran and Israel, which have been exchanging missile and drone attacks since June 13. In response to the U.S. air raids, Iran launched 27 missiles at Israeli cities including Haifa and Tel Aviv, causing injuries and triggering nationwide sirens in Israel.

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Despite the attacks, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no increase in off-site radiation levels at the targeted sites, indicating no immediate radiological threat to the public. However, inside the Natanz facility, there is concern over chemical toxicity and potential internal contamination, though no external radiation rise has been detected. The IAEA also confirmed damage to several buildings at the Esfahan site and noted that the heavily fortified Fordow facility had not sustained damage detectable by the agency at the time of their report.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization condemned the strikes as illegal and vowed to continue its nuclear program, describing it as a national industry born from the sacrifices of nuclear martyrs. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. of violating international law and warned of severe consequences, stating Iran “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty”.

U.S. officials communicated diplomatically with Iran to clarify that the strikes were a one-time event and that there was no immediate intention for regime change. Trump emphasized that “now is the time for peace,” though he warned Iran’s future could hold “peace or tragedy,” with additional targets available if necessary.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision as a historic and bold move, asserting that it would change the course of history. Israeli military officials reported continuing strikes on Iranian military targets in southwestern Iran.

Casualty reports indicate that since the conflict began, at least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran, while Israel has suffered 24 civilian deaths and over 1,200 injuries from Iranian missile attacks.

The U.S. strikes utilized the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound bomb capable of penetrating deep underground to target fortified facilities like Fordow, which is buried 80 to 90 meters below ground. Despite the power of the weapons used, it remains unclear how much damage was inflicted on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, as Iran reportedly evacuated key materials from these sites in advance.

The conflict’s escalation raises concerns about regional stability and the potential for further retaliation by Iran, including attacks on U.S. assets in the Gulf and disruption of oil supplies. The IAEA and international community continue to monitor the situation closely, warning of the catastrophic consequences should attacks hit operational nuclear power plants such as Bushehr.