Despite US claims of destruction, satellite images show Iran’s Fordow nuclear site still active after Operation Midnight Hammer airstrikes.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the United States launched a high-profile military strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure under the codename Operation Midnight Hammer. The strike, which took place on June 22, reportedly involved 125 aircrafts, including the advanced B-2 Stealth bombers, as well as a U.S. Navy submarine that launched Tomahawk missiles. The targets were Iran’s key nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

President Donald Trump swiftly claimed victory, asserting that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” However, new satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies appears to complicate this narrative. Contrary to U.S. claims, the images show that not only does the Fordow facility still stand, but activity around the site has actually increased in the aftermath of the attack.

Maxar’s high-resolution images reveal heavy machinery, including excavators and cranes, at the Fordow fuel enrichment complex. Personnel can be seen working near ventilation shafts that were reportedly targeted with Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, designed to pierce deep underground bunkers. Vehicles are stationed along newly constructed paths that lead into the heart of the facility, suggesting ongoing operations rather than total destruction.

The Fordow site, buried deep within a mountain and fortified against direct assault, has long been a symbol of Iran’s nuclear resilience. While the U.S. strikes were clearly aimed at disabling this hardened facility, the imagery suggests the attack may have caused damage that is reparable—or even minimal in strategic terms.

This discrepancy has profound geopolitical implications. Firstly, it undermines the credibility of the Trump administration’s claims, exposing the gap between military rhetoric and on-ground realities. Secondly, it raises questions about the efficacy of even the most advanced bunker-busting munitions against deeply entrenched facilities like Fordow.

Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the MOP bombs were designed to penetrate the main shaft of the facility at over 1,000 feet per second. While this is technologically impressive, it appears insufficient to achieve a permanent disablement of the underground complex. If Iran is able to swiftly resume operations at Fordow, it suggests that such strikes may only delay, rather than dismantle, its nuclear ambitions.

Furthermore, the apparent survival of the Fordow facility sends a strong signal to both allies and adversaries. For U.S. allies in the region—particularly Israel and the Gulf states—it raises concerns about the limits of American military power to neutralize nuclear threats. For adversaries, including Iran, it provides a case study in how to withstand even the most sophisticated military strikes.

Finally, the episode reflects a broader strategic dilemma: kinetic action can inflict short-term damage, but it rarely resolves long-term issues like nuclear proliferation. Without diplomatic engagement or sustained containment strategies, such operations risk being symbolic shows of force rather than substantive shifts in policy or capability.

As reconstruction efforts begin at Fordow, the world watches closely. The resilience of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, juxtaposed with America’s heavy-handed display of power, paints a complex picture—one where success cannot simply be measured in sorties flown or bombs dropped, but in the lasting impact on regional stability and non-proliferation efforts.