By William Miller, for Eurasia Business News, June 22, 2025. Article no. 1575
The U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites involved a large and complex operation using approximately 125 aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers and fighter jets. The strikes targeted three major nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
To penetrate the heavily fortified underground sites, especially the deeply buried Fordow facility, the U.S. deployed multiple GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, each weighing about 30,000 pounds and capable of penetrating up to 18 meters of concrete or 61 meters of earth. Two MOP bombs were dropped on each site, totaling 14 bunker-busting bombs used in the operation.
A decoy element was also part of the strike plan to confuse Iranian air defenses, enhancing the chances of successfully hitting the intended targets. The operation was described by U.S. officials as a “spectacular military success” and “overwhelming,” with all aircraft safely exiting Iranian airspace after completing their missions.
The strikes marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Iran and Israel, with the U.S. acting in “full coordination” with Israel. President Donald Trump emphasized that the attack was precise and limited to nuclear sites, warning Iran against retaliation while calling for peace.
Iran condemned the strikes as “dangerous” and vowed to respond, raising concerns about potential wider regional conflict in the Middle East. The full extent of the damage to the Iranian nuclear facilities remains unclear, but U.S. defense officials claimed the attacks “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear ambitions for the foreseeable future.
The background to this comes amid intense Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military sites, which have caused significant casualties, mostly among Iranian civilians, and have escalated tensions to a dangerous level. Israel continues its campaign with promises of further strikes, while Iran vows severe retaliation.
This week the U.S. President Donald Trump was seriously considering various options regarding the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, including the possibility of a U.S. military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. The U.S. is reportedly contemplating targeting Iran’s uranium enrichment site at Fordo, a subterranean facility believed to be crucial to Iran’s nuclear program.
On Tuesday, June 17, U.S. stock markets had slipped while oil prices were rising amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The S&P 500 index fell about 0.8%, dropping approximately 50 points to 5982.73, reflecting investor caution as the conflict intensified.
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© Copyright 2025 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1575.
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