Recent US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities may have had limited long-term impact, according to an early assessment by the Pentagon. Despite targeting critical locations like Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan with precision-guided bunker-busting weapons, officials now believe the operation has only set back Iran’s nuclear progress by a few months.
The attack, carried out under the name “Operation Midnight Hammer,” involved B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. The Pentagon initially called the strike a “military success” aimed specifically at halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions without pursuing regime change. However, intelligence agencies now admit that Iran’s technical knowledge and nuclear infrastructure are difficult to eliminate completely.
Experts from global security think tanks also support this view. They say that while physical damage was done, Iran still holds the expertise and capability to rebuild and resume its program quickly. The delay, therefore, is temporary.
Iran, in response, has launched missiles and drones toward Israel and issued warnings about disrupting oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. These moves mark a sharp escalation in regional tensions and have already led to the suspension of ongoing diplomatic talks on Iran’s nuclear deal.
The situation remains fragile. While the US strikes were designed to weaken Iran’s capabilities, they may have also triggered a broader geopolitical confrontation that could draw in multiple global players.
