By Global Security Insights, News Flayer
Published: 7:00 PM PKT, June 26, 2025

Tehran (News Flayer) — Yo, the Middle East is a powder keg right now, and Iran’s nuclear facilities are at the heart of it. After Israel’s Operation Rising Lion on June 13 and the U.S.’s Operation Midnight Hammer on June 21, Iran’s nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—took a beating. But are they down for the count, or is Iran still in the game? A U.S. intelligence report leaked to CNN says the strikes didn’t wipe out Iran’s nuclear program, and some facilities might still be humming along. Let’s break it down, ‘cause this is wild.

What Got Hit and How Bad?

Israel kicked things off on June 13, hammering Natanz’s enrichment plant and other targets with precision airstrikes. The U.S. followed up, dropping 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on Fordow and Natanz, plus over two dozen Tomahawk missiles on Isfahan. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show craters at Fordow, smashed buildings at Isfahan, and Natanz’s aboveground facilities looking like a war zone. But here’s the kicker: Fordow’s underground bunkers and Natanz’s buried enrichment halls might still be operational. Why? Those sites are built like fortresses, dug deep into mountains to shrug off even bunker-busters.

Fordow, near Qom, is Iran’s hardcore enrichment hub, churning out uranium at 60%—scarily close to weapons-grade. The U.S. hit it with 12 MOPs, but a senior Iranian source told Reuters that enriched uranium was moved out before the strikes. Natanz, Iran’s biggest enrichment site, took two MOPs, damaging power lines that could’ve messed with its centrifuges. Isfahan’s uranium conversion plant got trashed, with 18 buildings flattened, likely knocking it offline. But Bushehr, Iran’s only nuclear power plant, was left untouched. Why? Hitting a live reactor risks a radiological mess, and Russia, which fills it, warns of   catastrophic fallout.Therefore, Bushehr is likely still enlightening Iran’s network.

Iran’s Response

Iran didn’t sit quiet. On June 23, they fired 10 to 19 missiles at the U.S. ‘s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Ain al-Asad in Iraq, calling it “Victory Message.” Qatar’s defenses intercepted most, with no casualties reported.Iran’s Preeminent Pioneer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called it a mighty response to U.S.aggression, but President Trump dismissed it as “weak” and pushed for peace. Iran’s parliament too voted to suspend IAEA participation, signaling they are multiplying down.. Could this mean they’re hiding something, like covert sites or undamaged centrifuges?

Are Iran’s Nukes Still a Threat?

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) says the strikes set Iran’s program back “months, not years.” Centrifuges at Fordow and Natanz might still spin, as their underground setups are tough to crack. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told CNN it’s too early to confirm damage but suggested power disruptions could’ve hurt vibration-sensitive centrifuges. Iran claims the damage was “superficial,” but posts on X from June 26 report Tehran admitting “badly damaged” facilities, a shift from their earlier bravado. If true, why the change in tune? Are they feeling the heat or playing for sympathy?

Bushehr still online, but it’s not about weapons—it’s power generation under IAEA watch. The real worry is Fordow and Natanz. If Iran moved uranium stockpiles, as some claim, they could be enriching in secret facilities. Experts like Jeffrey Lewis from the Middlebury Institute warn that Iran’s nuclear know-how is “too entrenched” to be bombed away. So, even if Fordow’s limping, could Iran rebuild faster than we think?

Global Fallout and Ceasefire Wobbles

A Qatar-brokered ceasefire kicked in on June 24, but its temperamental.Iran launched missiles at Israel hours before, killing four in Beersheba, and Israel hit Tehran overnight. Trump’s calling it a “total ceasefire,” but Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says they’ll strike again if provoked. Oil prices dropped 7% after Iran’s “limited” Qatar attack, calming markets, but the Strait of Hormuz closure threat looms. What happens if Iran escalates? Could this drag the region into a wider war?

What’s Next?

Iran’s nuclear program isn’t dead, but it’s bruised. Bushehr’s running, Fordow and Natanz might still have some juice, and Isfahan’s likely out. The U.Sand Israel claim triumph, but Irans not backing down, and clandestine locales may be their pro within the gap.As the ceasefire teeters, the world’s watching. Will Iran rebuild its nukes, or is diplomacy the next play? Stay tuned—this ain’t over.