The United States bombed Iran primarily to set back Iran's nuclear weapons program, which was perceived as an approaching threat. The strike, called Operation Midnight Hammer, targeted three nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified uranium enrichment site at Fordo. Iran was reportedly close to acquiring the capability to manufacture an atomic bomb, and diplomatic efforts had stalled as Iran walked away from negotiations. The US aimed to demonstrate its resolve to defend its interests and its ally Israel, which views Iran as an existential threat. The strike was also a response to ongoing regional conflicts involving Iran and its support for groups hostile to Israel. The US sought to delay Iran's nuclear ambitions and send a message about the consequences of underestimating American military power.
The strikes were coordinated with Israel and employed bunker-buster bombs capable of penetrating deep underground facilities. Though the full long-term impact is still uncertain, the immediate goal was to buy more time for diplomatic solutions and reduce the nuclear threat.
There is also significant debate about the legality of the strikes, as they were conducted without explicit authorization from the UN Security Council and without clear evidence of an immediate armed attack by Iran on the US. The US framed the strike as a preemptive defense against the nuclear threat posed by Iran's advancing program.
