TEHRAN, 23 June — Iran’s state television confirmed that the Fordo underground nuclear enrichment facility came under attack on Monday, though authorities withheld details on the extent of damage or the party responsible. The strike marks a continuation of mounting military pressure against Iran, following a wave of U.S. and Israeli operations over the past 48 hours.
While the Iranian report did not assign blame, the attack came amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes across various locations in Iran throughout Monday. The previous day, the United States had launched a coordinated assault on three Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordo, deploying advanced bunker-buster munitions to breach the hardened underground facility.
“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing late Sunday. He described the strikes as “a precision operation targeting Iran’s nuclear programme.”
Vice President JD Vance echoed the sentiment, telling reporters that the administration’s objective was “deterrence, not destabilization.”
Despite these official statements, former President Donald Trump stirred controversy by openly raising the issue of regime change in Tehran. Posting on his social media platform, Trump wrote:
“It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”
His remarks came just hours after U.S. airstrikes and amid fears in global capitals that Washington might escalate its objectives beyond military deterrence.
Iranian officials have yet to issue a formal response regarding the latest attack on Fordo or offer clarity on any casualties or structural impact. The Fordo facility, buried deep within a mountain near Qom, has long been at the center of international concern due to its enrichment capabilities.
The situation remains fluid, with regional observers warning that continued strikes could provoke a broader conflict if retaliatory measures are taken by Tehran.
