Iran moved uranium before U.S. strikes

Iran reportedly relocated most of the highly enriched uranium stored at its Fordow nuclear facility shortly before the recent U.S. airstrikes, according to a senior Iranian source cited by Reuters. 

The source added that staff numbers at the plant were also significantly reduced ahead of the attack.

Satellite imagery taken days before the strike showed lines of trucks outside the Fordow complex, supporting the theory that Iran took precautionary steps to safeguard sensitive nuclear material. This may explain the absence of radioactive leaks or major secondary effects, although the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

At a Pentagon press briefing, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kaine confirmed that the U.S. military operation—codenamed “Midnight Hammer”—targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

“The President speaks, and the world listens,” Kaine declared, describing the strike as the largest U.S. operation involving B-2 stealth bombers in history. Seven B-2s, 14 bunker-buster bombs, over two dozen Tomahawk missiles, and more than 125 military aircraft were involved in the assault.

Hegseth stated that the attacks were designed to “weaken” and “destroy” Iran’s nuclear capabilities without targeting military personnel or civilians. He stressed that President Trump seeks peace, but warned Iran to follow suit.

Iran’s air defenses reportedly did not respond to the surprise assault. While emphasizing that regime change was not the goal, U.S. officials reiterated that their forces remain on alert in the region amid fears of Iranian retaliation.

Damage assessments are ongoing. “It’s too early to make definitive claims about what remains,” said General Kaine.