Trump Boasts ‘Monumental Damage’ to Iran’s Nuclear Sites, Calls Strike a Bullseye
n a televised post on Monday, President Donald Trump described U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s fortified nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan as a “bullseye” mission, causing “monumental damage” and “obliteration.” These first-ever direct U.S. strikes in concert with Israeli operations targeted deeply buried sites using bunker-buster GBU‑57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” bombs dropped by B‑2 stealth bombers under a clandestine campaign dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer.
Trump’s Truth Social post stated the strike “obliterated” strategic areas well below ground and cited satellite imagery confirming widespread destruction. He added, “Bullseye!!!”. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proclaimed the strike an “incredible and overwhelming success,” echoing Trump and saying Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “devastated”. while Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine noted all three sites sustained “extremely severe damage”
The strike—launched around 2:30 a.m. local time on June 22—involved seven B‑2 stealth bombers and submarine-fired Tomahawk missiles, with support from fighter jets and airborne refueling. Iranian air defenses did not engage, the Pentagon confirmed .
Satellite images from Maxar show collapsed underground tunnels and entrance points at Fordow and structural devastation at Natanz and Isfahan. U.S. officials claim centrifuge halls were damaged, though Iran contests full destruction.
Despite triumphalist U.S. statements, analysts caution that full impact assessment is ongoing. Gen. Caine said it’s still “way too early” to determine residual nuclear capability. The Guardian and Reuters echoed this caution, noting while U.S. officials hailed success, assessments remain preliminary .
Global responses have been mixed. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation; China, Russia, and the UN criticized it as a dangerous escalation. U.N. Secretary‑General António Guterres described the strikes as a “perilous turn,” and called for urgent diplomacy. Iran’s UN envoy condemned the strikes as “illegal” and vowed both retaliation and legal action.
The strikes represent the most significant Western military action against Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, dramatically upping the ante in the Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict. With Iran likely to retaliate—possibly via missile strikes or proxy attacks—regional tensions may escalate further, affecting global energy markets and international diplomacy
