Operation Midnight Hammer was the code name for the massive U.S. air and sea strike launched on June 22, 2025. The operation marked the official entry of the United States into a “twelve-day war” that followed nearly two weeks of Israeli bombardment.

The Destruction of Key Nuclear Facilities

According to military reports and the President’s recent comments, the U.S. Air Force and Navy targeted three primary locations to permanently disable Tehran’s nuclear program.

• Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant: Considered the most difficult target due to its subterranean location, it was hit by GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-busters carried by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
• Natanz Nuclear Facility: Heavily damaged by aerial bombardment to halt centrifuge activity.
• Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center: Struck by over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. Navy submarines.

Trump noted on Monday that “digging it out will be a long and difficult process,” suggesting that the facilities are now completely buried under rubble and sand.

Ceasefire on the Brink: April 2026

The current two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, is set to expire on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. While the U.S. has expressed readiness for a second round of peace talks in Islamabad, the situation remains in a volatile limbo.+1

Current Sticking Points:

• Naval Blockade: The U.S. continues to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports. On April 19, the USS Spruance (DDG-111) disabled and seized the Iranian cargo ship M/V Touska after it reportedly ignored warnings.+1
• Uranium Stockpiles: Trump claims Iran agreed to hand over its enriched uranium. However, Tehran’s Foreign Ministry has flatly denied this, and said it will not be transfer the stockpile anywhere.”
• Strait of Hormuz: Iran has threatened to target any vessel passing through this vital waterway without their permission, while Trump has threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if they do not cooperate.

Political and Military Fallout

Vice President JD Vance pland to return to Islamabad for negotiations. However, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has accused the U.S. of using the talks as a “surrender table” and warned that Iran has “new cards” to show on the battlefield.

With the April 22 deadline looming, global oil markets remain unstable as Brent crude prices fluctuate near $95 per barrel. The international community is watching closely to see if a last-minute deal can prevent a full-scale return to war in the Gulf.