5 hours ago
Last Updated:June 22, 2025, 20:03 IST
The US's 'Operation Midnight Hammer' bombed three nuclear sites in Iran. Despite acknowledging damage, Iran remains committed to continuing its nuclear program.
A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the US struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
Following United States’ ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ that led to bombings of three nuclear sites in Iran, the Islamic Republic accepted that it has suffered damages in the attack but remained firm in continuing its nuclear work.
Despite the losses, Iran showed commitment to its nuclear program, saying its knowledge in the nuclear field “cannot be destroyed."
Media reports, citing Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, reported that nuclear industry “has roots" in Iran and “it cannot be destroyed."
“Of course, we have suffered damage, but this is not the first time that the industry has suffered damage," media reports quoted Kamalvandi as saying.
What Is Operation Midnight Hammer?
The Pentagon announced on Sunday that the operation that US carried out against Iran after President Donald Trump ditched his two-week deadline was named ‘Operation Midnight Hammer.’
Further escalating the tensions by pushing itself directly into the conflict, the US dropped bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in the early hours of Sunday (IST). Notably, the mountain facility at Fordow and the enrichment plant at Natanz are among Iran’s key uranium enrichment centres. The US used B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles to carry out the attacks.
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth termed the midnight operation against Iran an “overwhelming success", adding that they “devastated" Iranian nuclear facilities at multiple locations.
He said that on President Donald Trump’s order, US Central Command carried out a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, to destroy Iran’s nuclear program.
Addressing a press briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Hegseth said, “Last night, on President Trump’s orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran -Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan- in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program. It was an incredible and overwhelming success."
The strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan began at 6:40 p.m. ET, with all bombers exiting Iranian airspace by 7:00 p.m. ET, Dan Caine said. The operation involved 125 aircraft and several B-2 bombers.
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...
Read More
Tehran, Iran
First Published:News world ‘Suffered Damages’: Iran Accepts Losses In America's Operation Hammer, But Says Nuclear Work Won't Halt
