Satellite Images Reveal Devastation at Iran Nuclear Sites After U.S. Airstrikes

In the aftermath of the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, newly released satellite images reveal the scale of destruction at key nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. While President Donald Trump declared the sites “completely obliterated,” defense officials at the Pentagon offered a more measured assessment, deepening questions around the operation’s full impact.

The strikes, carried out by seven B-2 stealth bombers, targeted underground nuclear assets using GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)—each weighing nearly 30,000 kilograms and designed specifically to destroy hardened subterranean bunkers.

Trump Declares Victory, Pentagon Urges Caution

In a televised address, Trump hailed the strikes as a “spectacular military success,” asserting that Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities had been “completely and totally destroyed.” However, Pentagon sources were more cautious, stating that while “some capabilities” were eliminated, the overall facilities had suffered “serious damage,” not total destruction.

Satellite Data Confirms Heat Signatures and Cratered Sites

Satellite imagery captured in the early hours following the assault showed thermal anomalies around Fordow, indicating intense heat activity. Defense analysts confirmed that fire-monitoring satellites detected a surge in temperatures between 1:45 and 2:30 AM local time, especially near Iranian air defense installations, suggesting direct hits in sensitive zones.

Natanz Nuclear Facility Before Bombing

Natanz Nuclear Facility After Bombing

The images also revealed extensive structural damage to entrances and tunnels, particularly at Fordow, where analysts believe the U.S. targeted a 250-meter tunnel complex carved into a mountainside. Multiple entry points appeared bombarded, consistent with tactical saturation bombing—a strategy that involves striking the same location multiple times to ensure destruction.

Fordow Nuclear Facility Before Bombing

Fordow Nuclear Facility After Bombing

Isfahan Facility Reportedly “Wiped Out”

Significant damage was also confirmed at Isfahan, with an Israeli official claiming the facility was “wiped out” entirely. The same source reported that Natanz and Fordow had been “severely disabled.”

Isfahan Facility Before the Bombing

Isfahan Facility After the Bombing

Iran Vows Response, But Remains Officially Silent

Iran has yet to release a full damage report but has issued initial warnings through the Foreign Ministry and the Revolutionary Guard, stating that the attack “will not go unanswered” and pledging that its nuclear program will continue undeterred.

Former Pentagon targeting expert Wes Bryant explained that the use of MOPs against fortified bunkers is a classic military approach to crippling subterranean targets. “Hitting the same point with multiple penetrators ensures collapse, even through dense rock,” he said.

As the region braces for potential retaliatory action, attention now turns to the Strait of Hormuz, with analysts warning that a prolonged confrontation could trigger the most serious energy and security crisis in the Middle East in half a century.