A wave of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers departed Guam on the evening of 21 June (ET) and struck Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan nuclear sites with a mix of deep-penetration and precision-guided munitions. Fordow—buried some 80 m under a mountain—was reportedly hit with 30,000-lb GBU-57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” (MOP) bombs, while Natanz and Esfahan were targeted with JDAM-class glide bombs. Minutes after the last explosions, former President Donald Trump proclaimed a “successful strike” on Truth Social, and the White House scheduled a nationwide address. Tehran invoked Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and placed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on maximum alert, threatening retaliation against U.S. forces in the region. Oil markets reacted sharply: Brent crude briefly broke the USD 100 mark on fears of supply disruption.
Attack Timeline (ET)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 19:40 | Multiple flight-tracking feeds show B-2 Spirits leaving Guam and refuelling in flight |
| 21:15 | Israeli air‐defence radars register high-altitude targets approaching from the west |
| 21:30 – 22:05 | Explosions and power outages reported at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan |
| 22:12 | Trump posts “Successful attack!” on Truth Social |
| 22:45 | White House notifies U.S. broadcasters of a 22:00 presidential address |
Weapon Platforms & Munitions
B-2 Spirit & GBU-57 MOP
The B-2 is presently the only operational aircraft that can carry two GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, each weighing roughly 30,000 lb and engineered to penetrate 60–80 m of rock or reinforced concrete.
JDAM / JDAM-ER
Natanz and Esfahan—shallower, partly surface facilities—were likely engaged with BLU-109/137-based JDAMs or wing-fitted JDAM-ERs, offering both penetration capability and standoff range.
Target Facilities & Strategic Significance
| Facility | Location | Function & Importance | Protective Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fordow | Mountain near Qom, ~80 m underground | Enriches uranium to the 60 % range, widely seen as Iran’s “last-mile” weaponisation node | Deeply buried, layered air defences |
| Natanz | Desert basin in Isfahan Province | Iran’s largest centrifuge farm (≈15,000 units); key enrichment capacity; damaged in 2021 sabotage | Light overburden, hardened halls |
| Esfahan (ENTC) | Outskirts of Isfahan City | Uranium conversion, fuel-rod fabrication, metallurgy R&D; under continuous IAEA monitoring | Dispersed buildings, limited cover |
Iranian & International Reactions
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Tehran: Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a “strategic blunder” and, citing Article 51, asserted its right of self-defence.
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IRGC: Placed forces on highest alert, warning of proportional attacks on U.S. bases and naval assets.
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United States: Trump administration hailed a “swift, surgical and successful” action, while signalling readiness for further measures.
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Regional / Global: Saudi Arabia and Turkey urged de-escalation; several EU states temporarily closed embassies in Tehran.
Market Impact
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Brent crude futures spiked past USD 100 per barrel in after-hours trading as traders priced in the risk of Hormuz Strait disruption.
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Safe-haven assets—including the dollar, Swiss franc and gold—strengthened, while emerging-market equities and local-currency bonds came under pressure.
Initial Assessment
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Material Damage vs. Program Resilience – Fordow was probably degraded but not eliminated; Iran retains dispersed enrichment capacity and may rebuild quickly.
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Retaliatory Thresholds – Tehran’s response will hinge on U.S. follow-on posture and allied participation; any escalation into Gulf shipping lanes could amplify oil-price shocks.
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Political Signalling – The strike, timed alongside Israeli operations, underscores Washington–Jerusalem coordination and turns up pressure on Tehran to re-enter negotiations.
Continuous monitoring of IRGC proxies in Iraq/Syria, insurance rates for Gulf shipping and tanker traffic through Hormuz will be essential for gauging whether the conflict stabilises or widens further.