US Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites: Operation Midnight Hammer
Why in the news
The Israel-Iran conflict escalated when the United States hit Iran’s uranium enrichment sites directly with 30,000-pound bombs. The mission was code-named Operation Midnight Hammer, and fears of a wider regional war grew.
Key facts
| Site | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant | Buried under a mountain near Qom; enriches uranium to 60% purity; once nearly immune to conventional strikes |
| Natanz | Iran’s largest enrichment complex; thousands of advanced centrifuges in underground halls |
| Isfahan | Uranium conversion plants and research reactors; IAEA-monitored, which confirmed enriched uranium production |
- The strike was described as a coordinated US-Israel operation.
Consequences
- Could destabilise West Asia, pull in Russia and China, and weaken efforts to revive the JCPOA.
- Iran sees a “red line” crossed and says diplomacy has failed.
- Retaliation on US forces or bases could trigger a full regional war.
- Trust in US-led diplomacy may fall, and smaller states might speed up nuclear ambitions.
Exam angle
- Operation name: Midnight Hammer.
- Agency monitoring Isfahan: IAEA.
- Deal in focus: JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal).