Iran has confirmed that its nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow were attacked by the United States. However, Iranian officials state that nuclear materials were successfully removed from all three sites before the US strikes, asserting that no radioactive substances remain at these locations.
The London-based British news outlet BBC reported on Sunday morning (June 22, Bangladesh time) that US B-2 stealth bombers participated in the attacks on Iran. Following this, Iran officially acknowledged the strikes on its three nuclear facilities.
Hasan Abedini, Deputy Political Director of Iran's state TV, stated, "We had already emptied the three nuclear centers. Even if Trump's statement is true, we did not face any major damage because the nuclear materials had already been removed."
Akbar Salehi, Deputy Governor for Security Affairs in Isfahan, confirmed that "several explosions were heard in Natanz and Isfahan. We witnessed attacks near the nuclear facilities in these two cities."
Before the attacks on Isfahan and Natanz, Iran also confirmed the strike on Fordow. Iran's Tasnim news agency, quoting an official in Qom, reported that "parts of Fordow were damaged in the airstrike."
Fordow is considered one of Iran's most secret and heavily fortified nuclear facilities, located under a mountain in Qom province. It has long been regarded as a primary target for Israel.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump confirmed the "successful attacks" on three Iranian nuclear facilities in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. He stated, "We have very successfully completed attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All aircraft are now outside Iranian airspace." Trump further added that heavy bombs were dropped on the Fordow nuclear center, which is located 262 feet deep underground, and that the attacking aircraft were returning to the United States.
The current conflict began with Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, to which Iran retaliated with counter-airstrikes on Israel.
According to Iran's Health Ministry, approximately 300 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks. Conversely, Israel claims that dozens of its citizens have died in the Iranian attacks.
Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on June 13 was unprecedented, named "Operation Rising Lion." Iran responded in kind, launching attacks on Israel. While Iran and Israel exchanged missiles and drones last year, this recent Iranian attack was far more extensive than any past conflict.
This is considered to be the largest attack on Iranian territory since the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988.
