Did US Strikes Cripple Iran’s Nuclear Program? Analyzing the Aftermath with Satellite Images

The United States targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in a series of strikes on Sunday, hitting sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The attack, using 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, was initiated under the codename “Operation Midnight Hammer.” While former President Donald Trump hailed the mission as a success, claiming total obliteration of three nuclear enrichment sites, analysis of satellite imagery suggests a more complex scenario. Media reports reveal that while damage is visible, certain parts of the facilities appear intact. Experts, including those from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, emphasize that the strikes might not have hit key components, potentially leaving Iran’s nuclear program largely intact. The Esfahan Nuclear Technology and Research Centre appears to have suffered the most extensive damage. Reports indicate potential targeting of ventilation shafts at the Fordow facility. Concerns have been raised over Iran potentially moving uranium stocks prior to the attacks.